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The woman who murdered Loretta Saunders in Spryfield six years ago has claimed Indigenous status and the parole board has granted her a five-hour escorted temporary absence from prison to attend an Indigenous women’s sharing and drumming circle.

Victoria Lea Henneberry is serving a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Saunders, a young Inuit student from Labrador, in February 2014. Henneberry, now 34, and her boyfriend Blake Leggette were subletting a room in Saunders’ Cowie Hill Road apartment when the couple killed the Saint Mary’s University student, who was pregnant, after she came to collect their rent.

“You identify as Indigenous, American Cherokee from your mother's side,” said Henneberry’s parole board decision released Friday.

The board took that claim into consideration when making its decision to allow Henneberry to attend the drumming circle.

“This activity encourages women to find their voice through songs and drumming and assists women in learning about their traditional roles and responsibilities,” said the decision.

Henneberry’s claim to Indigenous status did not go over well with Saunders’ family and friends.

“A number of victim and community submissions oppose your claim to Indigenous heritage and oppose your access to related resources and supports,” said the decision. “Your crime has fueled the commitment of at least one victim to advocate for change in the system.”

Last year Henneberry applied for help from an Indigenous women’s support centre to gain release to an Aboriginal community.

“They did not support your application due to your charges and their clientele being Indigenous women and children,” said the decision. “Also they advised that their organization is very active in supporting the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.”

The parole board reviewed her case “by way of an Elder assisted hearing” to make its decision about the drumming circle.

“This type of absence may be approved for rehabilitative purposes to allow you to participate in specific treatment activities with the goal of reducing the risk of re-offending, and to allow you to participate in activities of a rehabilitative nature, including cultural and spiritual ceremonies unique to Indigenous peoples, with the goal of assisting in your reintegration into the community as a law-abiding citizen,” said the decision.

Saunders was 26 when she died. Leggette attacked her from behind when she entered the apartment, attempting to choke her.

“A struggle ensued with you and your co-accused attempting to suffocate the victim by placing plastic bags over her head,” said the decision. “Your co-accused banged the victim's head on the floor and she stopped moving. He then wrapped plastic wrap around her head and then placed her in a hockey bag.”

Henneberry and Leggette “placed the victim in the trunk of her own car and, using the victim's bank card to make purchases along the way, drove the car to Salisbury, Nova Scotia, where you dumped the hockey bag in a treed area on the median of the highway,” said the decision. “The two of you then drove on to Ontario. Your co-accused confessed his involvement in the murder to an undercover officer in February 2014, after which you were both arrested and returned to Halifax.”

The decision notes police recovered video evidence of the pair “conspiring to kill the victim five days before the murder.”

Henneberry was born in Halifax but raised primarily in Ontario.

“Your mother was a drug addict and you were taken into foster care at an early age,” said the decision. “At your hearing, you indicated that she was in conflict with the law. You exhibited behaviour problems and were moved from one foster home to another and then to a group home.”

She maintained a relationship with Leggette after their arrests for murder, but has since terminated it.

“The both of you practiced the Wiccan religion,” said the decision. “You told the Board that Wiccan has similarities to the Indigenous culture you now embrace.”

The drumming session Henneberry plans to attend is slated to take place at The Healing of the Seven Generations in Waterloo, Ont.

“It is your hope to attend 24 sessions over the next 12 months, for a total of 120 hours,” said the decision, which notes those would need to be approved by authorities.

Henneberry seemed to lack victim remorse during her parole hearing, said the decision, which noted she “smiled almost continuously throughout” the session.

“The two Elders present at your hearing both noted that you will need to address truth-telling on your cultural journey,” said the decision.