UK NEWS

STAR'S DESPAIR AS SHOT BOY'S BODY FOUND IN CAR

Arrested: William Balfour

Tuesday October 28,2008

By Cyril Dixon

POLICE searching for the seven-year-old nephew of Hollywood actress Jennifer Hudson discovered the boy’s body in an abandoned car yesterday.

Julian King had been missing since two members of the star’s family were killed on Friday.

Oscar-winner Ms Hudson’s mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were found shot dead at their Chicago home.

Julian, the son of Ms Hudson’s sister Julia, lived with them and was feared to have been kidnapped by his stepfather, William Balfour.

Balfour, 27, who has served a prison sentence for attempted murder and is on parole, was arrested on Friday and is being questioned.

Last night police sources said the dead boy had been shot multiple times in the back of the car that he was discovered in.

The vehicle was found by John Louden, 75, while he was out walking his dog.

He said he realised the number plate matched the one that police were looking for and said: “I didn’t look in there. I didn’t touch it. I knew it was a strange vehicle.”

Mr Louden said that his wife called police and they arrived about five minutes later, removing the body and towing away the car.

“I feel bad about that baby,” he added.

The grim discovery was made inside a white off-roader vehicle in the city’s West Side. Police had been searching for a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban.

The tragic find was made a day after Julian’s mother made a heart-rending plea for his safe return

Jennifer Hudson, who won her Oscar for the 2006 film Dreamgirls, had launched an appeal to help find Julian, offering a reward of $100,000.

She flew back to Chicago at the weekend to be with her family. The search was backed by US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, who live five miles from the shootings.

He said: “Michelle and I were absolutely heartbroken to learn about this unimaginable tragedy and we want Jennifer to know that she is in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.”