It was her first Christmas with her seven-week-old son, and young mum Za’Zell Preston couldn’t wait to make festive family memories.
As well as having a newborn with her boyfriend, William Wallace, the young mum also had two daughters from previous relationship, aged three and eight.
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.
The festive period is a time for family, and Za’Zell wanted it 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 William, 30, had been dating for three years – but their relationship was plagued with violence.
William had a way of persuading Za’Zell to give him another chance each time he hurt her.
Za’Zell’s loved ones could see that William was controlling and violent. She had confided in them that he had threatened to kill her on more than