Edmonton woman Tiki Laverdiere, 25, was last seen in North Battleford. (supplied photo/Battlefords RCMP)

By Angela Brown

In the courts

Three of eight suspects in Laverdiere homicide return to court

Aug 30, 2019 | 2:19 PM

Three of the eight who face charges in connection to Tiki Laverdiere’s homicide appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court Friday, including one who had his charges upgraded.

Based on further evidence collected by the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit North, Jesse Sangster is now charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and improperly interfering with a human body. These are in addition to a previous charge of theft of a motor vehicle.

A previous charge for accessory after the fact to murder was withdrawn in court. His defence lawyer ordered a bail supervision report ahead of of his next appearance on Sept. 6.

Outside court, Crown prosecutor Chris Browne said it is not unusual for more information to be received in this type of case.

“On matters such as this there is always ongoing disclosure as the file develops,” he said. “The Crown has a continuing obligation to provide that to defence, and we do that.”

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Soaring Eagle Whitstone appeared via closed-circut television from Pine Grove Correctional Centre. The Onion Lake Cree Nation woman is facing charges of first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body, and theft of a motor vehicle. Her case was adjourned to Sept. 27.

Nicole Cook appeared in court from the Edmonton Remand Centre via a system known as roll cart as North Battleford’s CCTV wasn’t able to connect to the Alberta facility at the time.

She was transferred to Edmonton as she is facing additional, separate outstanding charges in Alberta.

Nicole is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle, whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27 on the Thunderchild First Nation, days before Laverdiere was reported missing on May 12.

Nicole is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body, and theft of a motor vehicle in Laverdiere’s death.

Her matter was adjourned to Sept. 27 as her defence lawyer received more disclosure and needs time to review it.

Five others are charged in the ongoing homicide investigation, including Brent Checkosis, who was seriously injured during a stabbing at the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre. He remains in hospital.

Shayla Orthner and Danita Thomas are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Nikita Sandra Cook is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Mavis Quinn Takekenew, 55, is facing a charge of accessory after the fact to murder.

Human remains were found in a rural area outside of North Battleford on July 11 and confirmed to be the Edmonton woman on July 16. Laverdiere was reported missing on May 12 and last seen in the city on April 29.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow