The estranged brother-in-law of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson has been arrested over the murders of three of her relatives, police have said.

Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond said that William Balfour would be charged with three counts of murder.

Balfour, 27, who had been married to Hudson's sister Julia, was questioned after the deaths but not charged.

He was imprisoned for violating his parole on a previous attempted murder conviction, and was scheduled to have a hearing later.

Ms Bond would not give details about what evidence led police to charge Balfour for the shooting deaths of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, brother, Jason Hudson, 29, and seven-year-old nephew, Julian King.

Mrs Donerson and Jason Hudson were found shot to death on October 24 in Mrs Donerson's home. Four days later, Julian's body was found in a stolen car parked on Chicago's West Side. A handgun used in the killings was found nearby.

After the deaths, Jennifer Hudson returned to Chicago and identified Julian's body at the morgue.

Hudson got her start in 2005 competing on the US television show American Idol although she failed to reach the final.

She later won the role of Effie White in the 2006 film version of the stage musical Dreamgirls and earned a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance.

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