Alexandra Flanagan, 33, was murdered in 2007 in Barrie. Her dismembered body was found in two locations that year. (QMI AGENCY FILES)

BARRIE, Ont. — The family of a slain hairdresser, whose body parts were found in different parts of this city five years ago, fell into each others arms and wept Tuesday after hearing the alleged killer will go to trial for murder.

"I'm here for Alex," said mom Wendy Flanagan, who sat through difficult evidence at a lengthy preliminary hearing banned from publication that detailed the death of daughter Alexandra Flanagan.

The 33-year-old petite woman was last seen July 7, 2007, just blocks from her apartment.

Her mother became distraught when she made several calls and got no response. Her fears worsened when she went to her daughter's home and found her two cats hungry and thirsty with no food in their bowls, and a pot of cold stew gone sour on the stove.

Months later, parts of Alexandra's remains showed up in two different areas in Barrie.

Now, five years later, after hearing the details, a judge ruled there is enough evidence for Andrew Keene, 30, of Barrie to go to trial on charges of first-degree murder and dismembering a body.

Keene's family also sat through the details, but had no comment outside court.

"Show some respect," said Keene's mother, Nancy, when approached by a photographer.

Keene remains in custody and will be back in court Friday.

Barrie is about 100 km north of Toronto.