WILMINGTON, Del. — Hunter Biden’s onetime girlfriend and previous sister-in-law took the stand Thursday against him in his federal gun trial, saying it was hard to predict how his crack-smoking habit would affect his behavior.

Hallie Biden, who is the widow of Hunter Biden’s late brother Beau, testified that smoking crack cocaine could leave Hunter Biden “agitated or high-strung, but at other times, functioning as well.”

She said her brief relationship with the defendant began in late 2015 or early 2016, and included the time in which he allegedly lied on a federal background check in 2018 to buy a Colt revolver.

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Hunter Biden is accused of making two false statements when filling out the form to purchase the weapon by claiming not to be addicted to or using illegal drugs, and then unlawfully possessing the Colt revolver for 11 days. Under federal law, it is illegal for someone addicted to drugs to own a firearm.

Hallie Biden said she didn’t learn about his use of crack cocaine until after they became romantically involved. She recalled that she first found the drug at her house in Wilmington, where Hunter Biden sometimes stayed with her.

She later saw Hunter Biden smoking crack.

“Where did he get the drugs from?” asked prosecutor Leo Wise.

“Various dealers,” replied Ms. Biden, adding that she was sometimes with Hunter Biden when he met dealers.

“It was a terrible experience that I went through. I’m embarrassed, and I’m ashamed and I regret that period of my life,” she testified.

Hallie Biden is the person who discarded the gun that Hunter Biden purchased, an action that eventually led the federal investigation and prosecution.

On the stand Thursday, Hallie Biden testified how Hunter Biden freaked out when he learned she discarded the gun.

“The f— FBI. It’s hard to believe you’re that stupid,” Hunter Biden texted her upon learning she had thrown away the firearm in an open trash can next to a local supermarket.

She testified that she had “panicked” when she found the gun and ammo in a console of Hunter’s car and “wanted to get rid of them,” fearing Hunter Biden or her kids would discover it and hurt themselves.

Hallie Biden said she couldn’t remember what she did after throwing away the bag with the gun inside.

“I was just so flustered from the whole thing,” she testified. “I realize it was a stupid idea now, but I was just panicking.”

She said Hunter Biden told her to look for the gun, but when she returned to the grocery store it was not in the trash can. When that happened, he told her to go back and file a police report.

• This story is based in part on wire service reports.