By Amber Goodhand - Breaking Celebrity News Reporter

William Balfour will appear in a Chicago courtroom on April 23 to face counts of murder, aggravated kidnapping and home invasion in the October 24, 2008 deaths of Jennifer Hudson's family, and defense attorney's want to speak with the singer before the hearing.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, defense attorney Amy Thompson is seeking out the former American Idol star regarding text messages that were exchanged with her mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, around the time of her fatal shooting.

As Breaking Celebrity News was first to report, Jennifer might be called as a star witness in the April trial.

At a hearing on Tuesday, a Chicago police officer stated that during their investigation following the murders — which included Jennifer's mother, her 29-year-old brother Jason Hudson and seven-year-old nephew, Julian King — someone told authorities that William threatened to kill everyone in the house just one or two weeks before the horrific murders.