Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson has testified in the trial of William Balfour, the [uuid=9a19c8f8-fb3e-4855-a52e-956429aff9cc]man accused of murdering her mother, brother and seven-year-old nephew.[/uuid]

Hudson was the first witness to be called to the stand by the prosecution and said she had warned Julia, her elder sister, not to marry Balfour.

According to E! Online, she told the prosecutor: "I told her over and over again to not marry him. We did not like how he treated her."

Hudson was also asked to recount the last time she had seen her family, saying: "It was my mother, my brother, my sister and my dog. I was so surprised. The whole family is here."

The Dream Girls star broke down in tears as she added: "That was the last time I saw them. Thank God I had the opportunity."

The prosecution alleges that he shotDarnell Hudson Donerson,Jason HudsonandJulian Kingin a jealous rage after discovering his estranged wife was seeing another man.

Balfour is charged with three counts of first-degree murder as well as home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, residential burglary and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all charges.