A guy from Southern California was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Friday for killing his wife and propping up her corpse on a sofa while her children unwrapped Christmas gifts.
William Wallace, 39, of Anaheim, was convicted earlier this year of second-degree murder in the death of Za’Zell Preston, 26.
Preston was allegedly abused by Wallace throughout their marriage, according to authorities.
Preston was reportedly taking college courses in the hopes of becoming a domestic violence counselor when she was violently battered by Wallace on Dec. 24 or early Dec. 25 in 2011, according to prosecutors. Wallace had previously done time behind bars for hitting her.
The pair had attended a neighbor’s Christmas Eve celebration, according to prosecutors, and a neighbor recounted hearing an altercation later that evening.
According to the prosecution, Wallace moved his wife’s lifeless body from the bedroom to the family room couch Christmas morning, dressed her with sunglasses, and told his children, “Mommy ruined Christmas, she got drunk and ruined Christmas.”
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