Tearful Hudson testifies at murder trial

Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson broke down in tears Monday while testifying at the trial of the man accused of killing her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew in a jealous rage four years ago, The Associated Press reports.

Hudson was the first witness called after prosecutors and attorneys for William Balfour finished their opening statements. During her brief but emotional testimony, she told jurors her family didn't want her sister to marry Balfour and she spoke about the last time she saw her family members.

The singer and actress at first seemed composed as a prosecutor began asking her questions. But the testimony became increasingly difficult, and she began crying when talking about seeing her family the Sunday before the killings and later when a prosecutor showed her a picture of her mother.

Her voice also broke as she described her reaction when her sister, Julia Hudson, told her she was going to marry Balfour. They later became estranged.

"None of us wanted her to marry him," she said, her voice cracking and struggling to hold back tears. "We did not like how he treated her," she said.

Balfour has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in the October 2008 slayings.

After more than 30 minutes on the stand, Hudson grabbed a fistful of tissues and walked slowly across the courtroom directly in front of jurors. She then took a seat next to her fiance, David Otunga, best known for his stint on VH1's reality show "I Love New York."

A former federal prosecutor said prosecutors were shrewd to call Hudson as their first witness.

"It rivets the jury," said Phil Turner, a Chicago attorney. "For better or worse it increases the importance of the case in jurors' minds." Turner noted Hudson now can sit through the rest of the trial, in full view of the jury. Witnesses typically are not allowed to watch trials until they have testified.

The killings happened the day after Julia Hudson's birthday. Prosecutors say Balfour became enraged by balloons he saw at the home that he thought were from her new boyfriend.

Defense Attorney Amy Thompson offered jurors another take on the killings, telling them that police pinned the slayings on Balfour because they felt pressured to make an arrest.