An Innisfil, Ont. man charged with murdering and dismembering Alexandra Flanagan in 2007 has had his first degree murder charge reduced to second degree.

31-year-old Andrew Keene was charged in connection with Flanagan’s death in 2012, after some of her remains were found in different parts of Barrie, Ont.

Keene’s defence lawyer brought the cast to a higher court after a provincial court judge ruled last year there was enough evidence to try the case on the first degree charge.

But a superior court justice agreed with Keen’s defence lawyer, and found the case should go forward on the lesser charge of second degree murder.

While both charges carry a life sentence, parole eligibility can vary greatly between the two charges