Jennifer Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew was found dead in the back of a car three days after the Oscar-winning actress’s mother and brother were shot dead, US authorities said today.

Police searching for Jennifer Hudson’s seven-year-old nephew today said they have found a boy’s body.

The State of Illinois has opened a marathon series of clemency hearings for nearly every prisoner on death row in what could be the most sweeping review of capital punishment in US history.