Jennifer Hudson Didn't Want Sister to Marry Alleged Killer

Jennifer Hudson didn't approve of the relationship between her sister Julia and William Balfour, the man accused of killing Hudson's mother, brother, and nephew in 2008, according to newly filed court documents. Hudson grew up near Balfour and the two attended the same elementary school. She told detectives there was tension between her family and Balfour's over the relationship Balfour had with Julia Hudson, and that her family didn't learn of Julia's marriage to Balfour until months after it happened in late 2006. Hudson had advised Julia not to marry Balfour, she told prosecutors.

Julia Hudson and Balfour were estranged at the time of the murders but were still having sex, the Chicago Tribune reports. Balfour had allegedly threatened her numerous times, may have fought with one of her ex-boyfriends, and once bragged that he stole a .45-caliber gun from Julia's brother, Jason. On the morning of the murders, Balfour showed up apparently drunk and Julia let him in; he became angry when he found balloons from her new boyfriend and started punching them. She left him outside the home a few minutes later when she went to work. The release of the documents comes weeks before Balfour's trial is to begin April 9. Prosecutors have listed Jennifer Hudson as a potential witness. (More Jennifer Hudson stories.)