Witness: Hudson family murder suspect made threats

The man accused of killing Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew repeatedly threatened to kill his estranged wife’s family during a “rant” about how she was seeing someone else, a witness testified Thursday.

William Balfour was estranged from his wife, Hudson’s sister, at the time of the 2008 killings. Balfour, 30, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew.

Robbin Myers testified Thursday that Balfour came to a birthday party at his home in August 2008 and “went on a rant” about how he suspected his wife, Julia Hudson, was seeing a co-worker. Myers’ wife was friendly with Julia Hudson.

Myers testified that during their conversation, Balfour threatened to kill the Hudson family “at least 10 times.” He said Balfour raised his arms, exposing a handgun in his waistband.

Myers also testified he saw Balfour in a car outside the bus company where Julia Hudson and Myers’ wife worked days before the slayings. He said Balfour got out of the car with a gun in his waistband and headed for the building, but stopped when Myers honked a car horn.

An ex-girlfriend of Balfour’s also testified Thursday.

Chicago resident Diana Grant said she met Balfour through friends and began dating him in 2007. She said she learned he was married a couple of months later but that she was already in love with him.

Grant said she continued to see him, buying him clothes even though she knew he was dating at least one other woman. Grant told jurors that although Balfour slept at her apartment the night before the murder, they did not have sex and he left her home before daybreak.

Prosecutors contend that three hours after he left Grant’s apartment on Oct. 24, 2008, Balfour went inside the Hudson family house on Chicago’s South Side and shot Hudson’s mother and brother. Investigators allege he then took 7-year-old Julian King from the home and later killed him.

Earlier Thursday, a former Chicago police forensic investigator testified about the clothing Balfour was wearing when he was arrested. Other police officers also testified about surveillance videos and cellphone records.