Loretta Saunders murder cases postponed again

The case of two people charged in the death of Loretta Saunders, whose body was found on a highway median last month, has been adjourned until April 9 in Halifax provincial court.

Blake Leggette, 25, and his girlfriend Victoria Henneberry, 28, were charged with first-degree murder on Feb. 27.

Henneberry's lawyer, Pat Atherton, told the court Wednesday that it appears the Crown's disclosure of evidence will be "voluminous," which will take time to review.

He told judge Michael Sherar that a date for a preliminary hearing could be set when the case returns to court in April, but Leggette's lawyer said outside court he thought that was unlikely.

"I doubt that we'll be in a position to set a date at that point," said Lyle Howe, adding that they are still waiting for disclosure from the Crown. "I would assume that April 9 doesn't give us too much time. We'll need some time to review it before we set the date down."

Saunders's body was found on a snow-covered median off the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick the day before Leggette and Henneberry were charged.

The 26-year-old Inuk woman from Labrador, who was studying at Saint Mary's University, had disappeared from Halifax on Feb. 13.

Police allege Saunders was killed the day she was last seen at an apartment she once shared with the two accused.

Saunders's death has prompted calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, a topic Saunders was focusing on for her university thesis.