Amy Thompson, a defense attorney for William Balfour, heads back to court in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, following a lunch break on the second day of Balfour's trial. Balfour is charged in the October 2008 murders of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Amy Thompson, a defense attorney for William Balfour, heads back to court in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, following a lunch break on the second day of Balfour's trial. Balfour is charged in the October 2008 murders of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Lonnie Simpson, half-brother of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, leaves the Cook County Criminal Courts Building in Chicago after testifying on the second day of the trial of William Balfour, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Balfour is charged in the October 2008 murders of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Amy Thompson, a defense attorney for William Balfour, heads back to court in Chicago, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, following a lunch break on the second day of Balfour's trial. Balfour is charged in the October 2008 murders of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Lonnie Simpson, half-brother of singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, leaves the Cook County Criminal Courts Building in Chicago after testifying on the second day of the trial of William Balfour, Tuesday, April 24, 2012. Balfour is charged in the October 2008 murders of Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
CHICAGO (AP) ? The man accused of killing Jennifer Hudson's family appeared to cry at his trial Wednesday when prosecutors displayed graphic photographs of the youngest victim, Hudson's 7-year-old nephew.
It was the third day of testimony in the trial and the first time Hudson's brother-in-law, William Balfour, has appeared to show any emotion. Balfour dabbed his eyes with a tissue in view of the jury as pictures of the blood-soaked body of Julian King appeared on a large courtroom screen.
Balfour was estranged from his wife, Hudson's sister, at the time of the killings. Balfour, 30, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.
Hudson spent much of the morning outside the courtroom, as prosecutors showed the photographs of Julian. She entered the courtroom after the photos were shown.
The boy, known by the nickname Juice Box, was soaked in blood and two bullet holes were visible on the top of his head.
Prosecutors often give victims notice that they are about to enter disturbing evidence to give them a chance to leave.
Prosecutors claim Balfour targeted the family in a horrific act of vindictiveness against his ex-wife, Julia Hudson, the mother of Julian. They believe he became enraged by balloons he saw at the home that he thought were from her new boyfriend.
Defense attorneys have said the killing could be connected to alleged drug dealing by Hudson's brother.
Prosecutors contend Balfour went inside the Hudson family house on Chicago's South Side around 9 a.m. and shot Hudson's mother and brother. Investigators allege he then drove off in Jason Hudson's sport utility vehicle with 7-year-old Julian inside, and later shot the boy in the head as he lay behind a front seat.
With no surviving witnesses to the murders, prosecutors must offer overwhelming circumstantial evidence that Balfour committed the grisly crime on Oct. 24, 2008.
Associated Press
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