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Alvarez said the Hudson family "are relieved. . .This verdict cannot bring back their loved ones but we hope this brings them some justice.
"I talked to Jennifer Hudson before this trial," Alvarez continued. "She said, 'This was my mother. If it were me (who was killed), my mother would be here every day. So I'm gonna be every day.'"
The verdict came less than three hours after jurors sent out a note telling the judge they were split but still trying to reach a decision. A second note, issued at the same time, asked for all available evidence about the “cell phone tower coverage.”
The note concluded by saying “we are trying,” an apparent reference to their continued talks.
The judge agreed to send back a transcript of the testimony of FBI Special Agent Nikki Skovran, who performed a forensic analysis of Balfour’s cell phone from the day of the murders that placed him near the Hudson home around the time the victims were shot.
“With regard to the first question, please continue to deliberate,” Judge Charles Burns wrote.
The notes were sent out hours after jurors requested two videos: One from a high school showing the time Balfour's car was left parked on the street, and the other a video showing the police interrogation of Balfour claiming he left it there about 8:30 a.m. on the day of the murders.
Prosecutors have argued that the time stamp on the school security video proved Balfour was lying about his whereabouts that morning.
The jury of six men and six women began deliberations late Wednesday and have been sequestered for two nights at a hotel. They resumed deliberations today at 10:10 a.m.
Balfour, who turned 31 on Thursday, was convicted of fatally shooting the singer’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57; her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and her 7-year-old nephew Julian King in October 2008.
Prosecutors said he was upset that his estranged wife, Hudson's sister, Julia, had begun seeing another man and wanted a divorce.
The largely circumstantial case has no DNA or fingerprints tying Balfour to the crime. But prosecutors say witness testimony, firearms evidence and cell phone technology presented during 11 days of testimony all pointed toward Balfour.
The defense argued that Chicago police did not properly investigate the crime and rushed to apprehend a suspect amid all the media attention stemming from Jennifer Hudson's celebrity.
"I talked to Jennifer Hudson before this trial," Alvarez continued. "She said, 'This was my mother. If it were me (who was killed), my mother would be here every day. So I'm gonna be every day.'"
The verdict came less than three hours after jurors sent out a note telling the judge they were split but still trying to reach a decision. A second note, issued at the same time, asked for all available evidence about the “cell phone tower coverage.”
The note concluded by saying “we are trying,” an apparent reference to their continued talks.
The judge agreed to send back a transcript of the testimony of FBI Special Agent Nikki Skovran, who performed a forensic analysis of Balfour’s cell phone from the day of the murders that placed him near the Hudson home around the time the victims were shot.
“With regard to the first question, please continue to deliberate,” Judge Charles Burns wrote.
The notes were sent out hours after jurors requested two videos: One from a high school showing the time Balfour's car was left parked on the street, and the other a video showing the police interrogation of Balfour claiming he left it there about 8:30 a.m. on the day of the murders.
Prosecutors have argued that the time stamp on the school security video proved Balfour was lying about his whereabouts that morning.
The jury of six men and six women began deliberations late Wednesday and have been sequestered for two nights at a hotel. They resumed deliberations today at 10:10 a.m.
Balfour, who turned 31 on Thursday, was convicted of fatally shooting the singer’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57; her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and her 7-year-old nephew Julian King in October 2008.
Prosecutors said he was upset that his estranged wife, Hudson's sister, Julia, had begun seeing another man and wanted a divorce.
The largely circumstantial case has no DNA or fingerprints tying Balfour to the crime. But prosecutors say witness testimony, firearms evidence and cell phone technology presented during 11 days of testimony all pointed toward Balfour.
The defense argued that Chicago police did not properly investigate the crime and rushed to apprehend a suspect amid all the media attention stemming from Jennifer Hudson's celebrity.