A Los Angeles jury is deliberating the case of a man who allegedly tortured his estranged wife until she signed divorce papers.
Mohammad Hanafi, 58, of Hawthorne, is charged with kidnapping his wife, Raisa Hanafi, and torturing her by gagging her and drugging her, authorities said. He also allegedly forced her to sign over her assets in divorce papers.
Raisa Hanafi was confined for five days before she was able to escape, according to court documents.
The Superior Court panel also will decide whether to convict co-defendant Kisasi Liggins, who allegedly helped Hanafi in the 2008 crime.
During the trial, Hanafi’s attorney denied that he tried to kill the woman.
Raisa Hanafi testified that the men threatened to cut her up and feed her to dogs. She also said the men shocked her with a Taser.
— My-Thuan Tran