Convicted murderer William Balfour has been handed three life sentences for brutally slaying Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew in Chicago, Illinois in 2008.

The 31 year old, Hudson's estranged brother-in-law, was found guilty of first degree murder charges in May, and on Tuesday, Cook County Circuit Judge Charles Burns denied Balfour a new trial and ordered him to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Handing down the punishment as the Dreamgirls star looked on, Judge Burns told the defendant, "Your soul is as barren as dark space."

Balfour, who maintained his innocence throughout the trial, was convicted of breaking into the family home and killing Hudson's mum Darnell Donerson and her brother Jason Hudson in a jealous rage following his split from Julia Hudson earlier that year. The star's seven-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found shot dead in the back of an abandoned SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) three days later.

Balfour was also convicted of charges of residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and aggravated kidnapping.