Jennifer Hudson bowed her head and closed her eyes as she listened to a police officer’s account of when he found her family shot dead in Chicago.

The Oscar-winning actress – who gave evidence on the first day of the trial yesterday (23.04.12) – sat next to her fiance David Otunga at the Cook County courtroom where the second day of testimony is taking place in the trial of her former brother-in-law William Balfour.

Sgt Richard Dowling revealed he was the first person at the scene of the murder of Jennifer’s mother Darnell and brother Jason in their home on the South Side of the city in October 2008. Jennifer mother was found in a pool of blood in the living room, while
Jason was dead in his bed with a gunshot wound to the head. Police searched the three-story house for half an hour looking for
Jennifer’s seven-year-old nephew Julian, who was found dead three-days later.

Balfour is charged with first degree murder in their deaths in addition to home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, residential burglary
and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty.

The trial is expected to last for approximately a month and The BizzNiz will aim to bring you the latest from the trial as it happens.