VISTA -- The district attorney's office will seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally beating his live-in girlfriend's toddler son, a prosecutor said during a hearing Tuesday.

Jose Maurice Castenada, 21, and the girlfriend, Maria Razo, 23, are both charged with murder in connection with the June 25, 2005, death of 2-year-old Cesar Razo in Escondido.

Maria Razo faces 25 years to life in prison if she is convicted.

Prosecutor Lucille Weismantel said after Tuesday's hearing that Cesar's killing was a "particularly brutal murder" and that asking for the death penalty for Castenada, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, is warranted because of evidence that the murder took place over an extended period of time.

Castenada's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Dan Segura said there was no medical evidence that Cesar had suffered injuries before the fatal blow to his head was administered.

Segura said he felt "disappointment" at the decision to seek death because of his client's age and lack of criminal background.