Man charged over Hudson killings

Mr Balfour had been married to Hudson's sister Julia

The estranged brother-in-law of actress Jennifer Hudson has been charged with killing three of her relatives.

William Balfour, 27, who had been married to Hudson's sister Julia, was quizzed after the slayings but initially released without charge.

Hudson's mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew were found shot dead in Chicago in October.

Mr Balfour's lawyer had earlier said that his client "vehemently denies" the allegations.

Mr Balfour was formally arrested over the killings at Stateville Correctional Center in Chicago, where he was being held for a suspected parole violation.

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis told reporters investigators had a good case against Mr Balfour and could make "a very viable case in court".

Police also said they had physical evidence but gave no further details.

'Very weak'

"He vehemently denies that he is guilty in this case," said his lawyer, Joshua Kutnick.

"Any evidence pointing to Mr Balfour is not even thin - it is very, very weak," he added.

Jennifer Hudson is currently starring in The Secret Life of Bees

Mr Balfour's mother, Michele, said her son was innocent and that the investigation had been "botched-up".

Hudson's mother, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, and brother, 29-year-old Jason Hudson were found shot dead in their Chicago home on 24 October.

The body of her nephew, seven-year-old Julian King, was found in a vehicle in the city three days later.

Police told the news conference they believed the boy had been killed in the vehicle.

Hudson, 27, found fame on American Idol in 2005, and won an Oscar for best supporting actress in the hit film Dreamgirls in 2006.

The actress recently starred in the Sex and the City film and The Secret Life of Bees. Her song Spotlight reached number one in the US Billboard R&B charts.

A hearing will be held on Wednesday.