In May a jury convicted William Balfour of murdering the singer/actress’ mother, brother, and 7-year-old nephew. Balfour was married to the Academy Award winner’s sister Julia Hudson.

Cook County Circuit Judge Charles Burns denied a request from Balfour’s defense for a new trial. Balfour, whose attorneys argued during the trial that someone else on Chicago’s South Side committed the 2008 murders, gave a statement Tuesday saying he was innocent.

The Associated Press notes that Balfour faced a mandatory life sentence and that Illinois doesn’t have the death penalty.

Jennifer Hudson was at the sentencing hearing after attending every day of the trial.