Parole denied for man convicted of punching infant

A former Costa Mesa man convicted of punching his girlfriend’s 7-month-old son and causing his death was denied parole Tuesday, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Mahmoud Fathi, 52, was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison in 1990 after punching 7-month-old Daniel Teodurezcu in the stomach on Nov. 29, 1983, causing a 5-centimeter internal tear in the boy’s abdomen and three fractured ribs, prosecutors said.

Daniel died the next day, after his mother noticed he was having trouble breathing and took him to the doctor.

The D.A.’s office pointed to Fathi’s denial of responsibility or involvement in the child’s death and general lack of remorse in opposing his parole.

His next parole hearing is scheduled for 2016.

— Lauren Williams