California Man Gets 15 To Life After Propping Murdered Wife On Couch As Kids Opened Christmas Presents
Back in March, we previously reported that an Anaheim, California man, identified as William Wallace, 39, was convicted of second-degree murder after awaiting trial for 9 years for propping his murdered wife on a couch as their kids opened Christmas presents.
The incident occurred in 2011 and on Christmas morning Wallace told his three children (the couple’s newborn son, and Preston’s 3- and 8-year-old daughters) that his then 26-year-old wife Za’Zell Preston “got drunk and ruined Christmas.” It’s reported that prior to Preston’s death, the couple’s relationship was “marred by continuous instances of domestic violence,” a tragically ironic report as Preston was studying domestic violence with hopes of becoming a counselor.
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During the trial, the oldest daughter recounted the couple arguing, Wallace pushing Preston into a glass table and him carrying her into a bathroom to clean her up. She adds that he dropped her, hitting her head on the side of the toilet and her body later being cold. On Christmas morning, she says Wallace dragged her mom’s body into the living room and propped her up on the couch before the youngest children came to open gifts. On Friday (June 4), Wallace was given a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. After the hearing, Preston’s mother, Saidell Preston, said, “He beat and tortured my daughter and at the same time mentally assassinated her children. He showed her no mercy. Let’s show him no mercy.” Other family members say in addition to several instances of abuse, he’d also threatened to kill Preston several times.
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