New York  - Two months after three of Jennifer Hudson's family members were murdered, her brother-in-law was indicted in the case, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

William Balfour, who was the estranged husband of Hudson's older sister Julia, is charged with killing the Oscar winning actress' mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew Julian. The state's attorney said the 27-year-old man killed the family members because he believed his wife had a new boyfriend.

Hudson's 57-year-old mother, Darnell, and 29-year-old brother, Jason, were found shot to death in their house on October 24. Julian, Julia's son by a previous relationship, was found three days later in an abandoned car with a bullet wound to the head.

Balfour was arrested shortly after the murder and has been the primary suspect since early December.

Jennifer Hudson, who was discovered on talent programme American Idol, won an Oscar for best supporting actress in the musical Dreamgirls and recently released her debut album. (dpa)