Man Receives 8 Years for Acid Attack
A Hacienda Heights man who blinded and disfigured a woman by throwing acid in her face two years ago has been sentenced to eight years in state prison.
Emad Fawzi Kalta, 22, of Hacienda Heights, pleaded guilty last May to mayhem, aggravated mayhem, and assault with a caustic chemical for the attack on Shusan Eloyan, now 25, of Glendale, in July, 1989.
Kalta subsequently appeared as a witness in the trial of Eloyan’s former stepfather, Ara Topalian, 56, and stepbrother, Carlo, 22, who prosecutors said arranged the attack.
During the Pasadena Superior Court trial, which concluded in April, Kalta testified that the Topalians persuaded him to throw the acid, and that Ara Topalian blamed Eloyan for the breakup of his marriage to the young woman’s mother.
The Topalians were both convicted of charges related to the attack and are to be sentenced June 1.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
