Hudson kin slay suspect pleads not guilty

CHICAGO, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- William Balfour, the man charged with killing three members of singer-actress Jennifer Hudson's family, has pleaded not guilty in a Chicago court.

Balfour, who is the estranged husband of Hudson's sister, Tuesday pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and home invasion, People.com said.

He is being held without bail and his next court date was scheduled for Jan. 27.

The news comes as Hudson has been scheduling her first public appearances since the October fatal shooting deaths of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

After staying out of the spotlight in recent months, Hudson, an Academy Award winner for "Dreamgirls," recently agreed to sing at both the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards ceremony next month.