JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man first charged more than a year ago in the death of his 3-month-old daughter will continue to be held without bond, a judge ruled on Friday.

David Vesey, 38, was arrested in February 2007 after his daughter, Alexis Kayla King, died at Wolfson Children's Hospital.

He was free on bond until last week, when the charges against him were upgraded to first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Doctors, who said they suspected the baby's injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome, called police. Detectives questioned both parents and searched the family's apartment on Plantation Bay Drive, just off Collins Road on the Westside.

Police said Vesey initially denied any wrongdoing, but then admitted he shook the baby because she was crying.

At Friday's bond hearing, defense attorney Michael Roberts told the judge that the child died because a hospital prescribed the wrong kind of asthma medication and other factors.

After the grand jury indicted Vesey on the murder charge, Roberts said the state had a weak case and the move to upgrade the charges and keep him in jail is an effort to force Vesey into a plea deal.

Judge John Merritt said there really is no option for bond on the first-degree charge.

"The judge ruled, in accordance with the law, that there was an indictment and, maybe, that takes precedence over his judgement," Roberts said after Friday's bond hearing. "The good news is, the judge is putting this on a fast track so he doesn't stay in jail one minute longer than he has to."

Vesey has invoked his right to a speedy trial as his wife -- who is in the Navy -- is going on deployment soon and will be a witness for the defense. Vesey was also in the Navy at the time of his daughter’s death.

Merritt said he hoped to hold the trial by July.