CHICAGO - A MURDER indictment has been issued against the man accused of killing the mother, brother and nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson.

No new details are offered in Tuesday's indictment against 27-year-old William Balfour, who's facing first-degree murder and home invasion charges.

Balfour is the estranged husband of Hudson's sister. He has pleaded not guilty in the deaths of Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, her brother, Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old Julian King.

At a brief hearing on Tuesday, defense attorney Joshua Kutnick asked the judge if Balfour can be moved from a state prison to a county jail to make communicating with his counsel easier.

The judge put off ruling on that decision until a Jan 20 court hearing. -- AP