Gerald Stanley has been committed to stand trial for second-degree murder.

A judge ruled Thursday, on the final day of Stanley’s preliminary hearing in North Battleford, Sask., to send the case to trial.

“That’s definitely what we wanted to hear,” said Colten Boushie’s cousin, Jade Tootoosis, outside the provincial court. “The trial is the next step. That’s what we’re going to do. We’ll just continue to seek out the truth and we’ll be here.”

Stanley, a Saskatchewan farmer, is charged in Boushie’s death. He’s pleaded not guilty.

Boushie, who was 22 and from the Red Pheasant First Nation, was shot and killed Aug. 9 while riding in an SUV that went onto a farm near Biggar, Sask.

His brother, William Boushie, told media following the judge’s ruling Colten was a strong member of his community.

“I’m pretty sure my brother is looking down now and happy and satisfied to see his community is actually paying it forward to him, paying it forward as he did in the past with them,” William said. “He liked to work. He was a kind, social person, who could talk to anybody. I just want him to be remembered as a good person, a good-hearted person.”

Colten’s death ignited racial tension across Saskatchewan, with several of Stanley’s court appearances, including Thursday’s appearance, marked by rallies in support of Colten’s family.

RCMP stated Wednesday officers are looking into laying hate speech charges over online comments made about the case. Premier Brad Wall condemned what he called "racist and hate-filled" comments shortly after the fatal shooting, and First Nations leaders from across the province called Thursday for bridged relationships between Saskatchewan’s indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

“This is a big thing because together, as First Nations and non-First Nations, we’ve got to tackle racism. We can’t deny that racism exists,” Thunderchild First Nation Chief Delbert Wapass said. “The reality is, no matter where you go, you are going to be running into each other. We’ve got to learn to get along.”

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations reiterated the call.

“I know, for our people, racism and discrimination happens each and every day, and, our people, we cannot become desensitized to this. I see it. I feel it. My son sees it. He feels it. We have to start saying, ‘No,’ and put an end to this type of treatment to our people,” FSIN Vice-Chief Heather Bear said.

“We are not going away. Our people, we are not going away. We are here to stay.”

The indigenous group, which has stated it believes the RCMP showed “poor judgement” throughout stages of the investigation, distanced itself Wednesday from comments made the previous day by its youth representative, Andre Bear.

Bear, who is not related to the FSIN vice-chief, told media there have been reports of RCMP officers escorting Stanley while out in public — specifically, while Stanley went on a trip to the bank — and said he felt security in place around the courthouse was in place to protect Stanley.

The RCMP refused to confirm or deny the alleged reports, but Stanley’s lawyer Scott Spencer said in a statement Wednesday night the allegation was “simply not true” and that spreading misinformation could compromise the case.

Spencer said he wouldn’t be surprised, nor would it be inappropriate, if the RCMP surveilled Stanley at times to ensure he was respecting his bail conditions, but stated at no time was Stanley escorted by police while running errands.

His statement went on to say, until the days before the preliminary hearing, the only contact he or Stanley had with RCMP was related to Stanley’s bail conditions or instances when credible threats were made against members of the Stanley family. He said most of the threats were made online and, while few have been considered credible, it has been a “constant concern” for the Stanley family.

“Having said that, there were three instances this week that raised safety concerns during the course of the preliminary hearing,” Spencer said. “Those instances appeared more in the nature of intimidation than threats and were treated as such.”

All evidence and testimony from Stanley’s preliminary hearing, which began Monday, are under a standard publication ban. The judge used the evidence to rule the case be committed for trial.

No date for the trial was set Thursday. Prosecutor William Burge said the proceedings will likely be scheduled for late fall 2017 at the earliest and be held at Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.

--- with files from The Canadian Press