A preliminary hearing has been ordered for a 41-year-old man charged with murder in the death of his Saugus girlfriend 18 months ago, a court clerk said Tuesday.

Eric Allen Earle appeared in San Fernando Superior Court Tuesday on a felony murder charge in the death of his live-in girlfriend Karla Brada.

He was ordered to return to court in April to set a date for a preliminary hearing to begin, the clerk said.

Earle was arrested and charged with murder Sept. 1, 2011 when Brada was found not breathing in her Saugus home.

He has since appeared in court almost every month with little development in his case.

Earle could face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison if found guilty, Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said at the time of his arrest.

He remains in custody at the Men’s Central Jail on Bauchet Street, in Los Angeles, with bail set at $1 million.

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