Deliberations continue in Balfour trial
CHICAGO, May 10 (UPI) -- A jury began its second day of deliberations in the Chicago trial of the man accused of killing three members of singer-actress Jennifer Hudson's family.
The Chicago Tribune said Hudson wept Wednesday as she sat with her fiance David Otunga and her sister Julia in the courtroom and listened to prosecutors and defense attorneys give their closing arguments in the case against William Balfour, Julia's ex-husband.
The racially diverse jury of six women and six men began deliberating late Wednesday afternoon, wrapped up in the evening and were sequestered in a hotel overnight. They resumed deliberations Thursday morning, the Tribune said.
Balfour, 30, is charged with the shooting deaths of the Hudson sisters' mother and brother and Julia's 7-year-old son in October 2008.
Prosecutors argued Balfour killed the family because Julia left him and was seeing another man. They said in their closing arguments witnesses, Balfour's statements to police and overwhelming circumstantial evidence, including cellphone records, "point to one place and one place only."
However, Balfour's defense attorneys said in their closing arguments authorities didn't consider any other suspects than Balfour and lacked evidence to prove he committed the crimes.
Balfour's legal team also called into question Balfour's possible motive, saying Julia continued to have sex with Balfour after she alleged he threatened to kill her family, so she must not have taken his alleged threats too seriously.
The defendant's lawyers said victim Jason Hudson, the brother of Jennifer and Julia, was a drug dealer with enemies who could have killed him, his mom and his nephew.
Stern talks 'Talent' on 'The View'
NEW YORK, May 10 (UPI) -- Radio shock jock Howard Stern says he plans to be a "very serious judge" when he starts his gig on "America's Got Talent" next week.
The Sirius satellite radio star talked about joining the TV competition series during his first appearance on "The View" in New York Thursday.
Asked about the Parents Television Council's recent call for a boycott of "AGT" because of his hiring, Stern replied, "I think it's kind of silly of anyone to say, 'Gee, we're against Howard on the show,' and they haven't seen the show."
"What I suggest is they tune in Monday night and see what I do," he said. "What I'm going to do is I'm going to be a very serious judge. I feel a lot of these shows have gone haywire; it's all about the judges. For example, on 'American Idol,' J. Lo doesn't say a negative thing, Steven [Tyler] doesn't either and neither does Randy [Jackson.] The judges have become more famous. It's all sugary. They're not giving anyone constructive criticism and they're doing the contestants a disservice. These people are brave. ... It takes a lot of guts to get up there. So, these people get on stage and you have to give constructive criticism -- even if it hurts."
Depp denies Paradis breakup buzz
LONDON, May 10 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Johnny Depp says rumors claiming he broke up with French singer Vanessa Paradis, his girlfriend of 14 years, are untrue.
The couple have a son and daughter together.
"The rumors are not true. They are absolutely not true," The Sun newspaper quoted the "Dark Shadows" actor as saying at the film's London premiere Wednesday.
"No matter what I say about this, people believe the opposite," Depp said of the breakup buzz. "I can't say enough about it not being over."
However, People.com said Paradis did not attend this week's London event with Depp, nor has she been seen publicly with him in months.
'Somebody' still No. 1 on record chart
LOS ANGELES, May 10 (UPI) -- Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" featuring Kimbra is No. 1 on the U.S. record chart for a fourth week, Billboard.com reported Thursday.
Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 is fun.'s "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monae, followed by Maroon 5's "Payphone" featuring Wiz Khalifa at No. 3, Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" at No. 4 and Flo Rida's "Wild Ones," featuring Sia at No. 5.
Rounding out the top tier are the Wanted's "Glad You Came" at No. 6, Nicki Minaj's "Starships" at No. 7, Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" at No. 8, One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" at No. 9 and Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" at No. 10.
