Michael Jace’s dead wife April DEFENDED her husband in his divorce from his ex-wife … an ex-wife he allegedly brutally and repeatedly beat.

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.

April told the divorce judge that Michael provided a stable home for his child, though she never addressed the claims he choked and hit Jennifer Bitterman and slammed her against the wall in front of their screaming son.

In fact April actually attacked Jennifer by calling her a bad mom.

The most bone-chilling thing …. April talked about Michael’s son with Jennifer, saying, “Usually at bedtime, he [Jordan, the child] prays for his mom and asks God to protect her while he’s not there with her.”

And this is interesting … April had a degree in Early Childhood/Adolescence development.