Loretta Saunders's killer Victoria Henneberry files appeal

The Halifaxwoman who admitted to killing Loretta Saunders is appealing her conviction, saying she was under a great deal of fear and anxietywhen she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in April.

Victoria Henneberry faxed a hand-written noticeof appeal from Truro's Nova Institution for Womento the prothonotary's officeat the Court of Appeal Fridaymorning.

"In no way did Iintend to admit guilt. I was not given a sufficient amount of time to fully consider, appreciate and understand to form a decision to make a deal pleaas I was under a great deal of stress, fear, anxiety, distress and emotional state," she wrote.

Had I been aware of his intentions prior,I'd have done what I could to deter him from committing such a heinous, callous, selfish and pointless offence which would have saved Ms. Saunders life.- Victoria Henneberry

Henneberry said she has a pre-existing anxiety disorder, which wasn't brought forward during the court process.

"During any time that I have experienced the symptoms of panic/anxiety, I have not acted out out violently or in any state of the manner, howeverI do becomes increasingly scared of what triggers the event," she said.

Henneberry is serving a life sentence for Saunders's murder. She must serve 10 years before she can apply for parole. Her then boyfriend, 26-year-old Blake Leggette, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was also sentenced to life in prison.

Saunders, a 26-year-old Inuk woman, disappeared in February2014. Her body was discovered in the median of the Trans-Canada Highway, west of Salisbury, N.B., a couple of weeks later.

According to court documents Saunders was killed because Leggette and Henneberry couldn't afford to pay their rent for a room they were leasing from her.

When Saunders arrived at the apartment on Feb. 13, 2014, Hennebery lied and said she'd lost her bank card and needed to call her bank to keep Saunders in the room,according to an agreed statement of facts.

In her written appeal statement, Henneberry says that's not true. She said she didn't know Leggette wanted to kill Saunders until he started attacking her.

"Had I been aware of his intentions prior,I'd have done what I could to deter him from committing such a heinous, callous, selfish and pointless offence which would have saved Ms. Saunders life."

Henneberry was granted an extension to appeal her conviction after she failed to file it with the 30-day window following her sentencing.

Shesaid she was told the window was 60 days.

"I was distraught, under a great deal of stress and panicked. I'm not guilty of the charge of second-degree murder," she wrote in court documents.