Nikita Cook was found guilty of first degree murder in Queen's Bench court Tuesday. (supplied/RCMP)

By Angela Brown

Homicide investigation

Nikita Cook sentenced to first degree murder in Tiki Laverdiere homicide

Oct 19, 2021 | 7:56 PM

One of the individuals facing charges in the Tiki Laverdiere homicide investigation was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder at Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford Tuesday.

Nikita Cook, 33, of Onion Lake Cree Nation, was found guilty of first-degree murder. An additional charge of kidnapping was stayed.

Justice Brenda Hildebrandt read the verdict in court Tuesday, following a trial that wrapped up Oct. 5.

Nikita Cook will not be eligible for parole for 25 years. Cook was ordered to provide a DNA sample. She was also ordered a lifetime weapons prohibition.

The court ordered a publication ban on all details of the trial proceedings, including evidence and victim impact statements, until the judge or jury involving all the accused individuals have retired to consider their verdict.

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Outside of the courthouse Tuesday, Tiki Laverdiere’s mother Carol Laverdiere said she was satisfied with the outcome of the verdict in Nikita Cook’s case.

“I’m grateful the judge has seen right through her,” she said. “I’m happy with the verdict. I’m happy that she got the maximum allowed.”

Tiki Laverdiere’s uncle, Doug Laverdiere, thanked the Crown prosecutors for their efforts.

Of Nikita Cook’s sentence, he said: “She got what she deserved.”

Six others accused are still facing charges connected to Laverdiere’s death. Jesse Sangster, Danita Thomas, Shayla Orthner, Soaring Eagle Whitstone and Nicole Cook are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. Samuel Takakenew is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

Three other individuals have previously been sentenced.

Charles St. Savard was sentenced in January 2021 to two years less a day in custody after pleading guilty to kidnapping Tiki Laverdiere. His charge of first-degree murder was stayed previously on Oct. 23 last year. Brent Checkosis was sentenced in May 2020 to seven years in prison after previously pleading guilty to the charge of accessory after the fact to murder. Mavis Takakenew was sentenced to 18 months incarceration in May 2020 after previously pleading guilty to the charge of accessory after the fact to murder.

Laverdiere, 25, was reported missing on May 12, 2019. She was last seen in North Battleford on May 1, 2019. Human remains were found in a rural area outside of North Battleford on July 11, 2019 and confirmed to be the Edmonton woman on July 16 of that year.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow