A man who admitted throwing around his 7-month-old daughter inside a van was sentenced yesterday to life in prison—plus 10 years.

Pulumataala Eli, 34, said he hurt his daughter because he was upset over the breakup with his daughter's mother and blamed it on the baby.

“;I know I failed to be a father to my daughter,”; Eli said yesterday.

A state jury found him guilty of attempted manslaughter.

The child suffered a head injury and respiratory failure in the attack, according to court documents.

The jury found Eli eligible for the life prison term because the victim was younger than 8 years. The usual penalty for attempted manslaughter is 20 years in prison.

Circuit Judge Randal Lee imposed the life sentence with the possibility of parole for the attempted manslaughter and added 10 years for Eli's earlier conviction for first-degree assault. Eli was on probation for the assault when he committed the attempted manslaughter.

Lee revoked the probation and resentenced Eli to the 10 years.

Eli is awaiting trial for assault in another case.