Police in Chicago are confirming that they have recovered the weapon that was used to kill Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew.

Police in Chicago are confirming that they have recovered the weapon that was used to kill Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew. The weapon in question is the .45-caliber gun that was discovered Wednesday in a vacant lot near where the body of Hudson's nephew was found a few days earlier. The body of Julian King was found in the back of a SUV in a West Side neighborhood. Last Friday, the bodies of Hudson's mom and brother were found in the family's home. Police superintendent Jody Weis says the weapon has been positively identified through forensic exams as the weapon used to kill all three. Weis says while police are glad they have been able to link the weapon to the shootings, there is still much work left in solving the case. Nobody has been charged in the killings. However, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister is in custody on a parole violation. Police have called William Balfour a "person of interest" in the case.

Sharon Collins found guilty of soliciting an Egyptian-born poker dealer to carry out the killings of her partner

Sharon Collins from Kildysart Road Ennis was found guilty in July this year.She was also found guilty of soliciting an Egyptian-born poker dealer to carry out the killings of her partner PJ Howard and his two sons, Robert and Niall.The seven-week trial heard how she searched the Internet for a contract killer and paid a €15,000 deposit to have her partner and his sons murdered.The jury found Essam Eid guilty of demanding money with menace from Robert Howard and of handling stolen goods.During the trial, Collins told the court she was not 'lyingeyes98' - the name of the email account used to hire a hitman