'They've gone through enough,' friends say of Loretta Saunders's family
There's a sense of relief among people in Labrador who knew Loretta Saunders — relief that her family won't be dealing with a lengthy trial after her killers confessed earlier this week.
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Bernice Earle works at the Mokami Status of Women Council in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and last saw Saunders on New Year's Eve when they rang in 2014 together.
They spent the night talking about growing up in the Labrador community and their plans for the future.
"None of us had really good lives growing up and then, with me working with Mokami Status of Women and she was working towards what she wanted to do. It all came down to helping women," said Earle.
"She wanted to help people and that's what she was working towards."
Coping with the loss
Earle said she was relieved when she found out Leggett and Henneberry pleaded guilty, meaning there won't be a long and drawn-out trial process for Saunders's family to contend with.
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"Her family shouldn't have to hear all that kind of stuff. They've gone through enough."
"We mourn the loss from an individual perspective, but also as a community," said Kershaw.
"The idea that we're safe isn't necessarily true and that's a frightening thing to come to terms with."
For Earle, coming to terms with the death of her friend means carrying on with her work.
"No matter what, you still fight for what you believe in and that's what she was doing, she was fighting for what she thought was right and what she believed in," said Earle.
"Same with me. That's why I'm still here, and I'll continue to stay here. This is where I'm supposed to be."
With files from Bailey White