Video: Jury forewoman, proseuctor speak on Mansa Musa Muhummed's conviction

A jury deliberated for about three hours today before convicting an Aguanga man on seven torture charges and numerous abuse charges.

After five weeks of testimony, the jury returned a verdict shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, much to the surprise of the prosecutor and court spectators.

Mansa Musa Muhummed, 55, shook his head left and right as the guilty verdicts were read in the hushed French Valley courtroom.

He was convicted of torture by starvation for seven of his children, false imprisonment of two of his three wives, and spousal and child abuse charges.

Defense attorney Pete Morreale was not available to come to court.

Prosecutor Julie Baldwin called the verdict a victory for the Muhummed children.

"I think the kids are the real heroes," she said outside of court. "I think the jurors did what they were supposed to do."

Muhummed was arrested in April 1999 after Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were alerted to problems at the Muhummed home by a letter written by one of Muhummed's three wives. Muhummed is a practicing Muslim who says his faith allows him to marry more than one woman.

Deputies found five people -- two wives and their three children -- living without access to bathroom facilities, running water, heat or air conditioning in a garage of the home southeast of Temecula

Muhummed faces seven life terms in prison when sentenced Aug. 1.