A Lethbridge courtroom has found that a man charged with first degree murder in the death of a Vulcan senior will stand trial.

A judge found Thursday that there was enough evidence against 36-year-old Timmy Engel, a resident of Claresholm, to put him to trial for the murder of 77-year-old Otto ‘Bunty’ Loose.

Loose disappeared in January 2012, and RCMP were alerted to his disappearance when someone tried to access his bank account.

A few days later, his dismembered body was found near Claresholm.

Police believe that Loose was kidnapped from his Vulcan home and taken to Nanton and Claresholm where several suspicious financial transactions took place.

Then, Loose was murdered and the body was dumped in a wooded area where he was eventually found.

Engel is charged with first degree murder and indignity to a human body.

His girlfriend, Bobbi Jo Parks, was charged with obstruction in the case, but that charge has since been stayed.

A trial date for Engel will be set on April 8.