'Mommy got drunk and ruined Christmas': What California man who 'killed his wife told their kids as they opened presents and he PROPPED UP her dead body'

 A Southern California man who killed his wife propped up her body on a sofa, told their children she was drunk and had them open Christmas presents in front of her body, a prosecutor told jurors at his murder trial.

'This Christmas story does not have a happy ending, and unfortunately this is not just a story, it is real life,' Heather Brown, senior deputy district attorney in Orange County, said Monday as trial began for William Wallace of Anaheim, The Orange County Register reported.

Za'Zell Preston, 26, was taking college classes in hopes of becoming a domestic violence counselor when she was killed in 2011 by a man who already had served jail time for beating her, the paper said.

Wallace, who was 30 years old at the time of his arrest, has been in jail since his December 2011 arrest in lieu of $1million bail, according to records. He is now 39 years old.

William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim, California is pictured above. Wallace's trial got underway in Southern California on Monday

William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim, California is pictured above. Wallace's trial got underway in Southern California on Monday

Wallace has been charged with murdering his wife, Za'Zell Preston, 26, on Christmas Day 2011

Wallace has been charged with murdering his wife, Za'Zell Preston, 26, on Christmas Day 2011

Preston and Wallace were together for three years during which he was jailed several times for beating her and violating a restraining order that she obtained against him

Preston and Wallace were together for three years during which he was jailed several times for beating her and violating a restraining order that she obtained against him

The couple had gone to a neighbor's Christmas Eve party and a neighbor described hearing an argument later that night, Brown said.

Another neighbor said Wallace could be seen picking up what appeared to be a body by an apartment gate. 


Wallace told a member of Preston's family that 'we were drinking and during the argument I tossed her around a bit,' the prosecutor said.

Preston tried to flee Wallace, but he tracked her down and dragged her back to the apartment, according to prosecutors. 

Brown said the next morning, Wallace dragged his wife's body from the bedroom to the living room couch, placed sunglasses on her and told the children: 'Mommy ruined Christmas, she got drunk and ruined Christmas.'

According to prosecutors, Wallace propped up Preston's body on a sofa, told their children she was drunk and had them open Christmas presents in front of her body

According to prosecutors, Wallace propped up Preston's body on a sofa, told their children she was drunk and had them open Christmas presents in front of her body

While Preston was propped up on the couch, Wallace had the two children open up Christmas gifts. 

Preston was slumped over on the couch when paramedics arrived. She left a newborn son and two daughters, who were then 3 and 8 years old.

Investigators said they found blood stains throughout the apartment. There were also holes punched in the wall and a door was knocked off its hinges.

After Preston was found dead, Wallace is alleged to have told one of her relatives that he was 'on my way to the penitentiary.'

He also told relatives that he was defending himself from Preston.

Wallace claimed that it was Preston who had attacked him, bit him, and that she fell and hit her head while he was defending himself. 

Wallace's attorney argued that Preston died from injuries after she drunkenly tripped and fell into a glass table, shattering it.

Friends had urged Preston (above) to leave Wallace, but she forgave him on several occasions even after he was jailed for battery

Friends had urged Preston (above) to leave Wallace, but she forgave him on several occasions even after he was jailed for battery 

'Mr. Wallace is being accused of something that is not his fault,' Heather Moorhead told jurors. 

'You will hear about a relationship that was full of arguing and yelling, but also a lot of love.' 

Moorhead said that neighbors heard a woman believed to be Preston angrily yell at Wallace in an alleyway behind the apartment complex.

The attorney told the court that after Preston fell into the table, her older daughter removed glass out of her mother's body and helped clean her wounds.

Moorhead claims that her client, Wallace, then moved Preston into a bathtub but that her head struck something else in the bathroom.

Wallace could face up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

Lorri Galloway, a longtime friend of Preston who was also an Anaheim city council member, told The Orange County Register that Wallace regularly beat Preston during their three-year relationship.

Galloway, who ran a home for abused women and children, said she and others begged Preston to leave Wallace.

'This is the story of a girl who had access to resources, but she thought she could handle it,' Galloway said. 

'These men are experts at apologizing. The women think they can change them.'

In 2008, Wallace was convicted of battery against a cohabitant. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, probation and was required to attend a batterer’s treatment program.

Soon afterward, Preston got a restraining order against Wallace, but relatives said that on several occasions he managed to convince her to forgive him. 

Wallace was arrested at least two times for violating the restraining order. Nonetheless, Preston would visit him in jail. 

On July 29, 2011, Preston posted on Facebook a picture of her and Wallace kissing under the caption, 'Lovebirds for life.'

On July 29, 2011, Preston posted on Facebook a picture of her and Wallace kissing under the caption, 'Lovebirds for life.'

At one point, when she was pregnant with Wallace's child, she visited him behind bars, where he told her that he had 'found Jesus.'

'He was going to live life as a man of faith,' Galloway said Preston told her.

'She believed it.'

Preston told her mother and grandmother that she intended to marry Wallace.

'We begged her not to marry this guy,' her mother, Saidell Preston, told OCR.

'I told her I had a bad feeling about her marrying him,' her grandmother, Sallie Baker, said.

In the summer of 2011, just months before her death, Wallace was released from jail. Preston allowed him to move into her apartment in Anaheim.

On July 29, 2011, she posted on Facebook a picture of her and Wallace kissing under the caption, 'Lovebirds for life.'  

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