William Balfour, the estranged brother-in-law of actress Jennifer Hudson, appeared in court yesterday, where he was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. Prosecutors believe that jealousy was the motive behind the slaying of Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew in October.
Balfour was denied bail, but his attorney Joshua Kutnick explains that it came as no surprise. “We knew it all along,” says Kutnick. “It’s the nature of the case, but we gave the judge something to think about yesterday. The state’s case is not substantial. It sounds better when a state’s attorney reads the evidence than when they have to actually put witnesses on the stand and subject them to cross examination.”
Kutnick went on to say that his client completely understands the severity of the charges against him but that they are both looking forward to their day in court.
“His spirit is fine, but this is heavy, especially given the fact that he denies it was him. My experience is that when a client is guilty, they are usually like, ‘Get me out, get me out,’ but William is being very patient. He understands that this has the potential of being a death penalty case and we have to go through a process, ” says Kutnick.
Kutnick expects that the actual trial won’t begin for another year, if not more. Until then, he plans to start their investigation into the murders and prepare to defend his client’s innocence.
Do you believe William Balfour couold be innocent?