The man accused of killing Jennifer Hudson's mother, brother and nephew will face trial on April 23.

William Balfour - the estranged husband of Jennifer's sister Julia - is alleged to have murdered Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57, Jason Hudson, 29, and seven-year-old Julian King in Chicago on October 24, 2008, but has pleaded not guilty to the three counts of murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion.

While Judge William Charles Burns wanted to begin the trial - which he expects to last three or four weeks - as soon as possible, he agreed to wait until April after deputy public defender Amy Thompson said they were not ready.

She said: "We're not prepared for trial at this time."

Assistant States Attorney James McKay also objected to a defence motion to turn over Jennifer's home address and telephone numbers to Balfour's attorneys but did agree to make her available to be interviewed by lawyers.

Jennifer recently revealed a last minute decision to visit her then boyfriend - and now fiance - David Otunga in Florida where he was fighting in a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) match meant she wasn't at her family's Chicago home when the murder spree took place.

She said: "That's one of the things that saved my life. Because I could have been home with my mum then.

"[David] wanted me to come out to Florida with him instead of going to Chicago. I flew out to see him; that's why I'm still here.

"I've never said that before, and I can't believe I just said that now. But I didn't know.

"He was just like, 'I'm going to this wrestling thing and it's in Tampa. I'm going out there now, so you can come out there and see me versus going home.' "