But first, we take you to Magistrate's Court where Felicia Chen, accused of intentionally drowning her 3 small children, had an adjournment today.
Her case has been treated very delicately because according to her psychiatrist, she was a danger to herself. Well, the news today is that the court will now treat her like any other defendant facing criminal charges for murder.
But, while that was today's outcome, it's been 4 and a half months since she was criminally charged, and today our Daniel Ortiz took a closer look at the undercurrents surrounding this case. Here's his story:
Daniel Ortiz, reporting
Since the allegation on April 29 that 22 year-old Felicia Chen murdered her 3 children, she's been on remand at a mental health institution because the authorities believed that she was clinically depressed, and a danger to herself.
Those were very understandable conclusions because after all, she was accused of intentionally drowning her 3 babies: 4 year old Triana, 3 year old Thomas, and 1 year old Trinaya Teul, to death. Only her eldest allegedly escaped from what turned into a tragic morning at Belizean Beach.
She's been receiving treatment at the facility ever since her arraignment, but as recently as Friday, September 6, her doctor indicated to the court that she was fit to stand trial.
So, when Chen was brought to court today, instead of ordering that she be returned to the facility, the Magistrate ordered that she be remanded at the Belize Central Prison. So, Chen is spending her first night there since she was arrested just over 4 months ago and charged with acts which defy the nature of motherhood.
But while she is fit to answer to the court for those crimes - and to be confined at prison, apparently - and quite inexplicably - she is still too fragile to face the harsh glare of the public lens. Once again, just as in all other appearances to court so far, the media was asked to leave before the hearing, and the officers made sure that she was cradled, and her face well hidden, while they rushed her to and from the building. She will be brought back from prison on November 8, and she will continue to receive psychiatric intervention from her doctor.
This evening, 7News spoke to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, who told us that now that Chen has been certified as fit to stand trial, the media will no longer be locked out of proceedings.
The DPP expects to be able to proceed with a preliminary inquiry at that next adjournment.
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