30-minute defense in Hudson family murder trial

Half-hour defense
in Hudson trial

CHICAGO — The man accused of killing three of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson’s relatives did not take the stand and his attorneys put on a mere 30-minute defense Tuesday, calling just two detectives in a bid to suggest they botched the 2008 investigation.

The brief defense followed a two-week presentation by prosecutors, who called 83 witnesses, including Hudson herself, as they sought to prove William Balfour shot the star’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in a fit of jealous rage.

Balfour, 30, is Hudson’s former brother-in-law.

Balfour has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. If convicted on all counts, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Rapper sentenced to 15 years to life

NEW YORK — When rapper G. Dep turned himself in for a nearly two-decade-old shooting, he told police he wanted to clear his conscience.

The 37-year-old rapper found out Tuesday what the consequences would be: 15 years to life in prison, the minimum term for his murder conviction. A judge, prosecutors and even the jury foreman said he deserved credit for coming forward when he’d never been suspected in the long-cold case.

“It may not be the best legal strategy, but, certainly, it was the right thing to do,” Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus said, “even though it landed you in the situation you’re in now.”

G. Dep was convicted last month — a decision jurors made “with a heavy heart,” foreman Jim Nelson wrote to Obus in a letter asking for leniency for the rapper, born Trevell Coleman.

Scam suspect enters
plea of not guilty

CLEVELAND — A recently captured fugitive suspected of running a scam that collected up to $100 million in donations for U.S. Navy veterans pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state charges, and a judge wary that he might disappear again ordered him kept locked up.

The man calls himself Bobby Thompson, though authorities don’t believe that’s his name but have been unable to identify him otherwise.

The man was arrested last week in Portland, Ore., by U.S. marshals after nearly two years as a fugitive.

Authorities believe he defrauded donors of up to $100 million in 41 states since 2001, including $2 million in Ohio. A fraction of the money has been found.

Principal questions
his school’s ranking

LAS VEGAS — A principal said his suburban high school outside Las Vegas is great, but probably shouldn’t win the title of 13th best in the nation.

Principal Jeff Horn is questioning the data that landed Henderson’s Green Valley High School in the company of elite prep schools and specialized technical academies on U.S. News and World Report’s “Best High Schools” rankings, released Tuesday.

“I know we do some great things at our school,” Horn said. “It was pretty cool to hear that news, but the information it was based on was incorrect.”

Compiled from
The Associated Press