Kids made to open gifts in front of mum's dead body

Za’Zell Preston’s husband told her children “Mommy ruined Christmas” by getting drunk, but in fact he’d killed her

- GAIL SHORTLAND

It was Za’Zell Preston’s first Christmas with her seven-week-old son and she couldn’t wait to make it a festive family occasion. As well as having a newborn baby with her husband, William Wallace, Za’Zell also had two daughters, aged three and eight, from a previous relationship.

Za’Zell, 26, had wrapped gifts ready for Christmas morning and had sorted all the special touches that make it such a magical time for children. She wanted the day to be perfect, but she was in a toxic relationship. Her smiles for the kids as they waited for Santa were hiding years of struggles.

It was 2011 and Za’Zell and Wallace, 30, had been together for three years and their relationship was plagued by violence. Wallace had a way of persuading Za’Zell to give him another chance each time her hurt her. Her loved ones could see that Wallace was controlling and violent. She had confided in them that her husband had threatened to kill her on more than one occasion.

In 2008, Wallace served time in prison after being convicted of battery against Za’Zell. He was sentenced to 45 days behind bars, given probation and was required to attend a treatment programme. Soon afterwards, Za’Zell got a restraining order out against Wallace and when he violated that order, he was sent back to prison.

Za’Zell would visit him in prison and he managed to persuade her to forgive him. She discovered she was pregnant with his child and Wallace told her he’d changed. He told her he’d “found Jesus” and wanted to change his ways.