A Quebec cardiologist charged with first-degree murder in the slayings of his two children is going to trial.

Judge Francois Beaudoin ordered Guy Turcotte to stand trial after a lengthy preliminary hearing in Saint-Jerome, north of Montreal.

Defence lawyer Pierre Poupart said he would not contest the decision.

The evidence presented at the hearing is subject to a publication ban.

The 37-year-old cardiologist is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his son, Olivier, 5 and daughter Anne-Sophie, 3.

Their bodies were found by police on Feb. 21, 2009, in their father's home in Piedmont.

Lawyers will return to court in early April to determine a trial date.

The trial, before judge and jury, could be held sometime in early 2011.

Turcotte faces life in prison without chance of parole for 25 years if he is convicted.