Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- A southern California woman convicted of cutting off the penis of her then-husband and throwing it into a garbage disposal was given a life sentence Friday with the possibility of parole after seven years , authorities said . Catherine Kieu , 50 , of Garden Grove , California , and her husband were going through a divorce at the time of the July 2011 incident . The couple married in December 2009 , but in May 2011 the husband filed for divorce , which was granted in August 2011 , according to Orange County court records . Kieu laced her husband 's dinner with the sleep medication Ambien after they had an argument over a friend possibly staying with them at a later date , the Orange County district attorney 's office said in a statement Friday . When the husband went to sleep , Kieu tied his legs and arms to the four corners of the bed , and when he awoke , she pulled down his pants and severed his penis with a knife , prosecutors charged . Kieu then threw the severed penis into the garbage disposal , turned it on and mutilated it , prosecutors alleged . Kieu then called 911 about how her husband was bleeding , and he was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery , authorities said . The victim 's name has not been made public because he is a victim of spousal abuse , police said . The ex-husband , 60 , described the trauma in an impact statement during Friday 's sentencing , according to a statement by the prosecutor 's office . `` The convicted ( person ) viciously deprived me of part of my life and identity , '' the ex-husband told the court . `` Then , as is routine in cases of violence that involve something sexual , the victim must endure , at the hands of the defense , a second attack . This was a cruel and calculated violation of a person 's body and mind . I now struggle with what is before me . She has torn off my identity as a man . She has caused doubt in my belief in good . She has betrayed my trust in people . '' On April 29 , a jury convicted Kieu of one felony count of torture , one felony count of aggravated mayhem , and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife , prosecutors said . The Vietnam-born Kieu is also known as Que Anh Tran , court papers said . She and her ex-husband had no children , divorce papers said . During the trial , Kieu 's attorney said she suffered mental health issues , including depression , and the lawyer argued she should n't be found guilty , the prosecutor 's office said . The Orange County case was widely compared to the1993 attack against John Wayne Bobbitt by his then-wife , Lorena , who cut off his penis with an 8-inch carving knife while he slept . Lorena Bobbitt then drove away , tossing the penis out her car window . The penis was eventually found and surgically reattached . Lorena Bobbitt was later found innocent by reason of insanity . During her testimony , she tearfully described her life at the hands of what she described as her abusive husband . In a separate trial , John Wayne Bobbitt was acquitted of sexually assaulting his wife . He later made adult films .
Catherine Kieu , 50 , is sentenced to life with possibility of parole after seven years . She was convicted of severing her then-husband 's penis , putting it in a garbage disposal . The husband filed for divorce two months before the July 2011 incident . `` She has torn off my identity as a man , '' ex-husband says during sentencing .