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TMZ reports;
Michael Jace was a violent, abusive husband who choked his wife in front of their kid … this according to legal docs from his prior divorce in 1997.
A friend of Jennifer Bitterman claims she personally witnessed Jace choking and slamming Jennifer against a wall as his 6month-old son screamed in his crib next to them.
April Jace -- who was killed by a gunshot at the hands of Michael -- got involved in Michael's messy divorce to his previous wife and defended him to the hilt ... even though there were claims of brutality. Continue.