Jennifer Hudson to Testify at Family Murder Trial?

Oscar winner has been placed on the witness list, but no word yet as to whether she will actually be called to take the stand

By Peter Gicas Feb 28, 2012 6:45 PMTags
Jennifer HudsonDimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

For Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson, this is anything but a dream.

The Oscar winner has been placed on the witness list for the upcoming trial of William Balfour, who has been charged with killing Hudson's mother, brother and nephew in Oct. 2008.

But will she actually be asked to take the stand?

That remains to be seen.

According to the Chicago Tribune, prosecutors have yet to disclose if Hudson will be called to testify.

As for why she might be called?

It seems a prosecution filing from last week reveals that Hudson had been interviewed by detectives following the murders. During those conversations, she reportedly informed authorities that she had known Balfour, who was the estranged husband of Hudson's sister Julia, since childhood.

What's more, Hudson revealed that Balfour had a history of not treating her sister well and that she had even advised her not to marry him.

The trial is scheduled to begin on April 9.

Prosecutors also filed a motion requesting that Julia be allowed to testify, despite being married to the defendant. In arguing that it wouldn't violate the spousal privilege law, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office alleges that Balfour had threatened his wife, telling her that if she ever left him he would kill her family and she would be "the last to die."