The third day of a preliminary inquiry into the case of two accused of murdering Saint Mary's University student Loretta Saunders got off to a dramatic start when the victim's uncle lunged at the accused in Halifax provincial court.
Loretta Saunders was studying the issue of murdered or missing aboriginal women when she was killed. (Facebook)
Victoria Henneberry, 28, and Blake Leggette, 26, of Halifax are charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 26-year-old earlier this year.
Members of the Saunders family grabbed Saunders's uncle, Herman MacLean, before he could reach the accused.
The ruckus prompted authorities to hustle the two accused into a secure corridor while sheriffs from all over the building rushed into the courtroom.
After the incident, members of the Saunders family pleaded with MacLean to calm down.
"We're here for Loretta," said one family member as others broke down, sobbing.
The family was then escorted out of the courtroom to the waiting room.
Once the area was cleared, Leggette and Henneberry were taken back to cells.
Early Tuesday, Judge Anne Derrick excluded everyone from the court for a voir dire, including the Saunders family and media. Only Legette, Henneberry, the lawyers and sheriffs were allowed to stay.
A voir dire is a trial within a trial during which lawyers discuss points of law and the admissibility of evidence.
A decision about whether the information discussed will be allowed as evidence is to be made Wednesday.
Senior Crown attorney Christine Driscoll said outside court she expects to call 15 police and civilian witnesses to testify.
The slaying of Saunders renewed calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women. She was Inuk, studying Canada's many missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Victoria Henneberry, 28, and Blake Leggette, 25, have been charged with first-degree murder. (Craig Paisley/CBC)
The 26-year-old disappeared from Halifax on Feb. 13.
Henneberry and Leggette had been subletting Saunders's apartment in Cowie Hill. They were arrested in Ontario with her car five days after she disappeared.
Saunders's body was later found in a wooded area off the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick on Feb. 26.
On Monday, defence lawyers for Henneberry and Leggette made the standard request for a publication ban, which was granted.
Publication bans protect the suspects' right to a fair trial. Preliminary hearings determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial.
This hearing is scheduled to go until Friday, and, if necessary, Aug. 1.
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