Anaheim man convicted of beating wife to death on Christmas Day 2011
Published
ANAHEIM, Calif. - A man who videotaped his stepchildren opening Christmas presents with their dead mother propped up on the couch was convicted Wednesday of beating her to death at their apartment in Anaheim.
William Wallace, 39, who is scheduled to be sentenced June 4, was convicted of second-degree murder for the Christmas Day 2011 death of 26-year-old Zazell Preston. Jurors began deliberating Tuesday and reached a verdict the
next morning.
The victim s 3- and 8-year-old daughters from a prior relationship and the couple s 7-week old baby were in the apartment at the time their mother s death.
Authorities determined Preston died about 1 a.m., but Wallace propped up her body on the couch while he videotaped the girls opening presents later that morning, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown.
Wallace called 911 about 9:30 a.m. that Christmas morning to report his wife needed medical help, according to police. He repeatedly threatened to kill her, Brown said in her closing argument.
Wallace was beating her in the head that s the kill zone, Brown said. That s why she s dead. He hit her in the head over and over. all the injuries to her head killed her.
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Christmas Day Killing of Wife in Anaheim Heads to Jury
By City News Service
Published April 5, 2021
Christmas Day Killing of Wife in Anaheim Heads to Jury A 39-year-old man repeatedly threatened to kill his wife and had done time for domestic violence before beating her to death on Christmas Day 2011 at their apartment in Anaheim, a prosecutor told jurors today, while the defendant’s attorney said the victim’s death was an accident and followed a night of heavy drinking.
William Wallace is charged with murdering 26-year-old Zazell Preston, whose 3- and 8-year-old daughters from a prior relationship and the couple’s 7- week old baby were in the apartment at the time their mother died.