The pair accused in Loretta Saunders’ murder will stand trial for first-degree murder, justice Anne Derrick ruled Friday morning as Saunders’ family and friends watched from the gallery.
In her decision following last week’s inquiry, Derrick found there was sufficient evidence that a properly-instructed jury could find Victoria Henneberry and Blake Leggette guilty of the planned, deliberate killing of the 26-year-old Saint Mary’s University student. The evidence that informed the judge’s ruling remains protected by publication ban.
As Derrick read her decision, 28-year-old Henneberry, wearing her hair in two long braids, burst into tears, and 26-year-old Leggette, wearing his beard in two short pigtails, remained composed. Henneberry’s attorney argued last week she should be tried on the lesser charge of accessory after the fact, while Leggette’s lawyer pushed for him to stand trial for second-degree murder, which does not include pre-meditation.
Saunders went missing February 13 after she went to collect rent from Leggette and Henneberry, her roommates. Her body was found in a hockey bag on a snowy median off the Trans Canada Highway near Salisbury, New Brunswick. The two roommates were initially charged with possession of stolen property, including Saunders’ car, but police subsequently charged them with first-degree murder.
A plea deal is still possible at any time, crown lawyer Christine Driscoll said following the ruling Friday, though she couldn’t say whether the crown would agree to a deal. If a trial happens, it would likely be scheduled for 2015 or 2016, and would likely take four to six weeks, Driscoll says.
Saunders’ family and friends left the courthouse quickly following the verdict. Most family members had returned to Goose Bay, Labrador following the inquiry last week.
Following the ruling, Ernest White, one of Saunders’ family members, wore a t-shirt with Loretta’s face printed on it and smoked a cigarette across from the courthouse. His face was slightly more relaxed than it had been the previous week.
“Justice has been served for Loretta,” he said. “This will help the starting process of grieving for Loretta. This has been very hard on the whole family.”
Loretta Saunders, an Inuk woman, was working on her thesis on missing and murdered aboriginal women before she went missing. She was on track to graduate this past May. Her family said she was three months pregnant before her death and was considering applying to law school.
