On the very first day of the Hudson family murder trial, prosecutors wasted no time in getting the star witnesses on the stand, calling Jennifer Hudson and her sister Julia to the stand. The sisters testified against Julia’s ex-husband William Balfour, who is accused of murdering Jennifer’s mother, Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old nephew (Julia’s son) Julian.
Jennifer testified first, claiming that she had feared for her sister and warned her not to marry Balfour repeatedly. The singer, who broke down in tears while on the stand, said that “we did not like how he treated her.” A week before the murder, her entire family made a surprise visit to her home, which turned out to be the last time Jennifer saw them alive. ”Thank God I had the opportunity,” she said in tears.
Julia testified shortly after, stating that her ex-husband threatened to kill her between “24 and 26″ times during the course of their marriage out of fear that she would leave him. The two were still married at the time of the killings and their divorce was finalized earlier this month. At one point, Balfour threatened the family as well, saying ”Julia, if you leave me, I will kill you. I will kill your family first and you will be the last to die.”
The trial is expected to last four weeks.
I’m not sure if Balfour will be sentenced to the death penalty, but, if not, I hope that they put this man in jail for life! I remember the tragedy in 2008, right when Jennifer was really breaking out into her own in terms of her music and acting. Of course, a tragedy like this would be terrible and heartbreaking at any time, but to have that happen right at the height of your glory like that is even worse. I sincerely am keeping Jennifer, Julia, and their family in my thoughts at this time.
Photo via Daniel Boczarski/WireImage
