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William Balfour is the man accused of murdering Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew back in October 2008. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that attorney Joshua Kutnick has withdrawn as Balfour’s attorney. Kutnick told the paper that the case was too high profile and costly. Because of this it would be numerous hours and did not have the time available. Balfour has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of home invasion. Kutnick had said there is no forensic evidence linking his former client to the killings, MTV reports. Jennifer Hudson has only recently started making appearances in the public eye again after singing at the Super Bowl and performing at the Grammys.

After her first and amazing performance at the Super Bowl since the family tragedies, and after a stellar performance last night at the Grammys, fans are certainly excited for Hudson to get back into things again. Starting April 2 in Philadelphia with R&B singer Robin Thicke, Hudson will tour for five weeks ending in Houston. She has certainly made a triumphant return so shortly after the murders of her mother, brother and nephew. Husdson won her first Grammy last night, and is excited about performing again. She told PEOPLE, “I am so grateful – my first Grammy and my first tour. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Jennifer Hudson has a lot on her mind. The 27-year-old singer is still recovering from the tragedy in her family while under the spotlight of the entertainment industry. Her personal life has been the horrifying story of celebrity news since October, but her professional life still manages to flourish. Hudson has been nominated for four awards tonight at the 51st Grammy Awards Show.

E! Online reports that the talented star feels blessed and honored to be among the nominees. “It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I’m extremely honored and humbled by the nominations,” Hudson said in a statement released by Arista Records.

Hudson performed Friday at the MusiCares tribute to Neil Diamond, and received the first standing ovation of the night. She sang a soulful rendition of the 1969 hit ‘Holly Holy’.

Hudson’s self-titled debut is nominated for R&B Album of the Year, while the tune “Spotlight” is a contender for best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Her fourth nomination is a shared one with American Idol buddy, Fantasia. They are in the running for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for their duet entitled “I’m His Only Woman.”

A man accused of killing three members of actress-singer Jennifer Hudson’s family has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and home invasion.

William Balfour, the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, Julia Hudson, entered his plea at Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago Tuesday.

He is accused of killing the sisters’ mother, Darnell Donerson, their brother, Jason Hudson, and Julia Hudson’s seven-year-old son, Julian King, in October.

The 27-year-old, who is being held without bail, is next due in court Jan. 27.

Jennifer Hudson, an Oscar winner in 2007 for her supporting role in “Dreamgirls,” has kept a low profile since the tragedy.

She is expected to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, and she also has four nominations stemming from her self-titled debut album, released in the fall, going into the Feb. 8 Grammy Awards.

Foo Fighters, Coldplay and Jennifer Hudson are among the artists who will perform at a gala ceremony honouring Neil Diamond in February.

Diamond, who was named 2008’s MusiCares Person of the Year, will also perform at the charity event taking place Feb. 6 at Los Angeles’ Convention Center.

The singer is being feted for his well-documented charitable work, which recently included donations to efforts like hurricane relief following Texas’ Hurricane Ike.

He joins such past honourees as Bono, Paul Simon, Sting and Aretha Franklin.

Additional performers in the ceremony’s lineup include Adele, Tim McGraw, Josh Groban and Raul Malo.

The event will also feature a silent auction, with celebrity memorabilia put up for grabs during an online auction.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit the MusiCares program, which helps musicians during times of financial, medical and personal need.

William Balfour, the ex-husband of Julia Hudson, as well as the only suspect in the Hudson family murders, has been in custody on a parole violation.

According to MTV News, as the brother-in-law of singer Jennifer Hudson, Balfour will undergo a hearing, which will determine whether or not there’s a probable cause to move on to the step of a more in depth court hearing.

During the upcoming hearing, the court will discuss not only Balfour’s missed anger management classes, but also his missed appointments for substance-abuse counseling and his June arrest for cocaine possession.

“There is a chance, if there is no probable cause, that he’ll be let go,” said board chairman Jorge Montes.

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office had no comment on the hearing, since it’s not directly related to the Hudson murder case, but it’s to their advantage that he remain in custody — the longer he is, the more time they have to build a case, should they decide to arraign him on the homicide charges.

“We can’t get into the nuts and bolts of our investigation right now,” a rep for the Chicago police department told MTV News. “Our investigation is continuing.”

According to Chicago police, the weapon which was used in the Hudson slayings has been found in the form of a handgun that was retrieved Wednesday in the city’s North Lawndale neighborhood.

The .45-caliber Sig-Sauer semiautomatic pistol, was recovered in the bushes of a vacant lot on Chicago’s West Side, merely a block away from the site where the body of Hudson’s nephew, Julian King, was found on Monday.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the police had suspected that the gun was in fact used in the killings, however they were not able to confirm it until forensic testing was completed on the weapon.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had previously traced the recovered gun to its original owner, who lives in Michigan and had reported it stolen. Now, investigators are trying to trace the weapon’s path from Michigan to Chicago.

In a statement released Thursday announcing the family’s formation of the Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims, the family said, “The specific purpose of the foundation is to care for the needs of families who have lost relatives to a violent crime. This encompasses their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, as well as grief counseling.”

While he has not been charged with a specific crime, William Balfour the ex-husband of Julia Hudson and only suspect, still remains in police custody as a “person of interest.”

A private funeral was held on Monday morning at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago for Jennifer Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King, who were the victims of murder last month in Chicago.

Hudson, according to the Chicago Tribune, spent a few moments at each of the coffins at the end of the two-hour wake, before then kissing her mother.

Fellow “American Idol” alum Fantasia Barrino was a guest at the funeral and sang an emotional “Your Grace and Mercy,” while holding Hudson’s hand.

The service also included Reverend Jesse Jackson and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley who both spoke at the service.

The funeral ended a short time later, and a horse-drawn carriage led the procession to the cemetery.

Police shut down streets surrounding the church in order to keep the media and onlookers away from the service. A plastic covering was used on a tall gated fence in back of the large church, blocking the public from seeing into the entrance area, according to The Associated Press.

A public memorial service for Jennifer Hudson’s slain family members will be held in Chicago Sunday (Nov. 2).

The service for Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, where the Oscar winner grew up singing.

“The Hudson family welcomes anyone who wishes to attend and pay their respects to these three beloved members of the Chicago community,” read an announcement made by Hudson Funeral Home, which is owned by the singer-actress’s aunt.

The public service, which will follow an hour-long private service at the church, reportedly will not be attended by Hudson or her sister Julia, according to aceshowbiz.com.

In lieu of flowers, the Hudson family is asking that donations be made toward the newly created Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims.

The foundation, which Hudson and sister Julia established in honour of late mother Darnell Hudson Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King (Julia’s son), will benefit families who have lost relatives to violent crime.

Chicago police have confirmed that the body of a child found in the backseat of a white Chevrolet Suburban is that of Jennifer Hudson’s nephew, Julian King.

King, 7, went missing on Friday, on the same day that Hudson’s mother and brother were found shot to death in their Chicago home.

According to the “Chicago Tribune”, the boy was shot multiple times in the back of the vehicle.

John Louden, 75, found the vehicle and told his wife to call the police once he realized that the license plate matched the one police had been looking for.

“I didn’t look in there. I didn’t touch it. I knew it was a strange vehicle,” Louden said. “I feel bad about that baby.”

Hudson’s sisters estranged husband William Balfour, 27, remains the primary suspect.

Authorities are holding him in custody for violating parole for a 1999 attempted murder conviction for which he served seven years.

Authorities are testing Balfour’s clothing for gunshot residue.

Balfour has denied involvement in the killings of Hudson’s mother and brother and in King’s disappearance.

Police searched Balfour’s girlfriend’s house for several hours Friday night after taking him into custody.

Her home is located about 2.5 miles from where the SUV was found this morning.

A family friend said Balfour recently threatened to take Julian away.