The man accused of killing Jennifer Hudson‘s mother, brother and nephew more than three years ago will finally go to trial in April. Over the objections of the defense, who said they’re still not ready, a judge set a date of April 9 for jury selection and April 23 for testimony to begin in the case.

William Balfour is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2008 murders on the South Side of Chicago. Prosecutors say Balfour, who is the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister, Julia, was enraged that Hudson’s sister had started dating a new man. They also claim gunpowder residue was found in Balfour’s car. The trial is expected to last a few weeks.

Hudson hasn’t talked much about the murders in public, but she did tell Oprah she thinks often about her mom. “I try to do everything to say, ‘OK, will my mother like this? Will she be pleased? Will she be proud of that? How do I know she’s happy and she’s smiling down at me from heaven?’ And that’s what I try to go by and walk by.”

Hudson has been busy promoting her weight loss memoir, ‘I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down.’ Her most recent album, ‘I Remember Me’ reached No. 2 last year.

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