Woman convicted in murder of Loretta Saunders loses leave privileges

The woman convicted in the 2014 murder of Loretta Saunders has lost the right to leave prison unescorted.

Victoria Lea Henneberry, 39, is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder for the killing of Saunders, a young Inuk woman from Labrador, in 2014.

Henneberry and her then boyfriend, Blake Leggette, had been subletting a Halifax apartment from Saunders. When she came to collect the rent on the day before Valentine's Day, Leggette and Henneberry killed her, stuffed her body in a hockey bag, and fled in her car.

They dumped her body alongside the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick and continued on to Ontario where they were arrested days later.

Henneberry had been granted a 30-day unescorted temporary absence last fall, to help her prepare for an eventual life on the outside. But partway through the absence, Henneberry was caught breaking the rules.

In a decision made on Christmas Eve, the Parole Board of Canada decided to revoke the absence.

"Your emotional instability and rule breaking must be considered in the context of your serious index offence and outstanding risk issues," the board wrote.

According to the board, Henneberry used a phone and went on the internet, two things that are in violation of her release conditions. She also started talking about suicide.

When confronted with these complaints, the board said Henneberry was "dismissive."

"As a result of your rule breaking and limited accountability, you have lost the support of your CMT (Case Management Team)."

Leggette pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is serving a life sentence. He must serve a minimum of 25 years before he can apply for parole.

Henneberry's minimum prison term had been set at 10 years, which is why authorities have been giving her reintegration opportunities.