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And to ensure that they would be remanded, DPP Vidal appeared for the arraignment of the couple. Both she and defense attorneys Ellis Arnold and Dickey Bradley fought to see whether they would be remanded or released on bail. Our news team was at court for the arraignment, and Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
This afternoon, after 7 days in detention, David and Anke Doehm were brought to the Belize City Magistrate's Court to face the first criminal charge for the death of their daughter, 13 year-old Faye Lin Cannon.

They were arraigned and remanded on the offense of cruelty to a child. The prosecuting authorities freely acknowledge that at this time, there is not enough evidence to substantiate a charge of murder against the husband and wife.

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal - Director of Public Prosecutions
"We do not unfortunately at this time have sufficient evidence to charge anyone with actually causing the death of Faye Lin, but we didn't think that it was appropriate for us to ignore other charges that could have possibly been laid and one of them certainly "cruelty of a child" and so we decided that while the investigation into the death is ongoing, we would nonetheless proceed with this one since we have sufficient evidence to prove this charge."

And that leads the defence attorneys to believe that "cruelty to a child" is an attempt to keep the Doehms locked up while the police try to gather sufficient evidence to bring the murder charge against their clients.

Dickie Bradley - Attorney for David Doehm
"You did hear Ellis Arnold kind of joke it off, but also made an issue of it that the police are usually nowadays getting involve in putting a holding charge. We were saying that perhaps maybe they are trying to see if they can find information for a more serious charge and has brought this charge and the reason they are asking the court to hold on to them is in the hopes that perhaps they will be able to get some further information in their investigation."

But, the DPP says not so. There is sufficient evidence that the couple neglected the health of Faye Lin, and that's why they are now accused of that.

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
"Because there is a primary investigation in relation to the killing of a child, does not mean of there is nether evidence in relation to the offence that police are going to act. We don't very often see this degree of criminality. The observations section of the post mortem report reads like a horror story and the doctor says, of course with a caveat that we don't want to try the case here, but that he observed fresh injuries, old injuries and all of them significant injuries. When interviewed under caution, both persons admitted to knowing of injuries being sustained by the victim. We cannot at this stage say that they caused those injuries, but they were aware of injuries. They were of the view that she was suffering from a certain illness and in all that time they never took her for any kind of medical treatment. In all that time they never took her to a doctor to be diagnosed. Instead they decided to administer valium to her and to perform some Japanese healing technique on her and the extend nature of the injuries I think definitely in light of the fact that they were the persons who were responsible for taking care of this child, amount to tremendous neglect of their part."

Both sides argued strenuously to try to convince Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith why she should grant or refuse bail. In the end, she considered the submissions from both sides and determined that the couple is a flight risk, and should be remanded.

The defense attorneys say that this is a set back, but they will redouble efforts at the Supreme Court with an application for bail there.

Dickie Bradley
"You know the Supreme Court has granted bail to other persons who have had far more serious allegations than neglecting a child, so that we have said from the outset and we advised the two accused persons that it is a matter that should best be dealt with at the Supreme Court level. So the matter of their freedom goes to the proper place which is the Supreme Court that upholds the freedom of everybody who is charged on allegation and can satisfy the court that we have no reason to get up and run."

And the DPP's Office, anticipating this tactic, will maintain a strong objection to both accused being admitted to bail.

Cheryl-Lynn Vidal
"Without a doubt. We honestly believe that they are flight risk. Given all of the circumstances that I would have outlined in court today and the situation will not change if the matter is before the Supreme Court instead of the magistrate court and we intend to continue our objection to them being admitted to bail."

"The investigation in relation to the death of Faye Lin in ongoing. You know that most often you hear from me when I am ranting and raving about the police, but I cannot say anything unfavorable in this case. They consulted with us as earlier as it was possible for them to do so and I really feel as though they are investing a lot of time and energy into this investigation and doing everything that they can possibly do. So the fact that we have not been able to lay a charge for the death of Faye Lin, is not for want a proper investigation by the police."

Notably that was the first on camera interview that DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has granted us since 2008. She told us that even though the community of San Pedro has been protesting the death of Faye Lin, they have also been very helpful by providing witness statements that have assisted the police.

Ultimately, Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith decided that David and Anke Doehm are a flight risk, and so, she couldn't granted bail. They have been remanded until August 24, where they will be taken back before the San Pedro Magistrate Court. Partial Disclosure is expected to be done in October.