William Balfour Pleads Not Guilty in Jennifer Hudson Family Tragedy

Tuesday January 20, 2009 02:15 PM EST

William Balfour

Jennifer Hudson's brother-in-law, William Balfour – who stands accused of murdering three members of the Oscar winner's family in Chicago last October – has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and home invasion.

Nodding to members of his family as he stepped into the courtroom, Balfour (the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson) entered his plea Tuesday at Cook County Criminal Court, the Associated Press reports.

Balfour is accused of killing their mother, brother and Julia Hudson's 7-year-old son. He is being held without bail and is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 27.

Jennifer Hudson, 27, is due to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl Feb. 1.
– Stephen M. Silverman