Councilman’s In-Law Killed Her Husband : Wife Convicted of Manslaughter

A 36-year-old woman was convicted Thursday of involuntary manslaughter for the 1981 shooting death of her husband in their Panorama City condominium.

Alice Wallace broke into tears when the jury announced its verdict, a decision that satisfied neither defense nor prosecuting attorneys. Outside the courtroom, an elegantly dressed Wallace continued to sob in the arms of her sister, Essiebea Farrell, the wife of City Councilman Robert Farrell.

“I am surprised that the jurors that felt so strongly for her would allow themselves to be swayed into a conviction,” said defense attorney Leslie Abramson shortly after talking to several of the jurors, some of whom wept and apologized for the verdict. “I am definitely disappointed.”

Wallace had testified during the trial in Van Nuys Superior Court that she accidentally shot her husband, Julian, 44, with a .25-caliber pistol when he grabbed her after an early morning argument on Oct. 1, 1981. The soft-spoken woman said that she had armed herself with the weapon to protect herself from her husband, who was a quality-control director for Hydro-Aire Co. in Burbank.

Abramson argued during the 16-day trial that Wallace had been physically abused by her husband and that she had become a virtual prisoner in her own home. Abramson said that Julian Wallace often accused his wife of infidelity, often forbade her from using the family car and discouraged her from talking on the telephone.

“I did something wrong because I wasn’t able to communicate the reality of the fear,” a frustrated Abramson told several of the jurors outside the courtroom.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Phillip Rabichow said he believed that the jury could have found Wallace guilty of voluntary manslaughter, a more serious offense that carries a stiffer penalty. “I felt from the evidence that she shot him intentionally,” Rabichow said. “Julian Williams was not a beast or an animal. He may have been jealous or possessive, but that is not a reason for shooting.”

Decision Difficult

Juror Richard Hodes, 32, of Tarzana, said only one member of the jury favored a voluntary manslaughter conviction. He said the seven women and five men on the panel spent most of the 2 1/2 days of deliberations debating whether to acquit Wallace. “It was a very hard decision for all of us,” he said. “This morning there was one lady who was still for acquittal.”

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Darlene E. Schempp denied a request by Rabichow that Wallace be taken into custody until she is sentenced next month. Wallace has been free since posting $15,000 bail shortly after the slaying.

Wallace has been employed in various administrative capacities by Farrell, who represents the 8th District, since one month after the slaying, according to court documents.

Abramson said she is hopeful that a probation report being prepared for Schempp will persuade the judge to sentence Wallace to probation rather than a prison term. Wallace faces a possible sentence of 6 years in state prison when sentenced March 8.