A judge from Illinois today gave a life sentence in prison without parole to the man convicted of murdering three members of the family of Jennifer Hudson, the Grammy and Oscar winning singer and actress.
William Balfour was convicted in May of breaking into the Hudson family home and fatally shooting Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, her brother Jason Hudson, 29, and her 7-year-old nephew Julian King.
According to Reuters, Cook County Judge Charles Patrick Burns told Balfour: "You have the heart of an arctic night. Your soul is as barren as dark space."
It was established that Balfour's motive was jealousy of Julia Hudson, his estranged wife, who he threatened on a number of occasions, witnesses at the 11 day trial in May claimed that he had said that he would kill her after he killed her family. The trial ended with his conviction on May 11.
Balfour has received three consecutive life terms, with no parole. On top of that he received 120 years for the three murders and other charges, which included counts of aggravated kidnapping and home invasion.
Balfour's attorneys reportedly said that they will appeal the sentence.
Hudson, who won a Grammy for her first album, as well as an Oscar for her role in the movie 'Dream Girls', alongside Eddie Murphy, was in tears in court and left without making any statement.
The singer, who came to prominence on 'American Idol', was the first witness in Balfour's trial and told the court that she had known him since school and had never liked him.
PHOTOS: Jennifer Hudson says goodbye to family members at funeral.
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