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Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson struggled to hold back tears Monday mnorning 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.

Hudson was the first witness called after prosecutors and attorneys for William Balfour finished their opening statements.

The singer and actress, who wore a subdued black dress and whose hair was wrapped in a bun, responded to prosecutors’ questions softly but confidently and when asked to identify the defendant, poked her head around the judge’s bench and pointed at Balfour.

“He’s sitting right there,” she said.

Her voice broke, though, as she started to describe her reaction when her sister, Julia Hudson, told her she was going to marry Balfour. “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. He showed little emotion during opening statements, and slumped in his chair with his hand on his chin or elbows resting on the defense table.

Prosecutor Veryl Gambino said during opening statements that Balfour began threatening to harm the family after moving out of Hudson’s family home.

Courtesy of www.thebellereport.net    www.twitter.com/thebellereport