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

By Angela Brown

Homicide Investigation

Accused in Tiki Laverdiere case receive large amount of evidence Crown will use to prosecute

Dec 13, 2019 | 5:01 PM

Four of eight charged in the homicide investigation connected to the death of Tiki Brook-Lyn Laverdiere returned to court Friday with some receiving substantial additoinal Crown disclosure.

Jesse Sangster appeared via CCTV from the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre, Nikita Sandra Cook and Soaring Eagle Whitstone appeared via CCTV from Pine Grove Correctional Centre, and Nicole Cook appeared from the Edmonton Remand Centre.

The court heard Sangster’s defence counsel received a hard drive with one terabyte of data to review from the Crown as part of its disclosure. In criminal trials, the Crown Prosection Service has a duty to disclose all information it will use against the defence in trial.

Crown prosecutor Chris Browne said the amount of recent disclosure for the defence to assess is significant. He said investigation in the case is ongoing and all the disclosure is not complete yet.

Sangster is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, Improperly interfering with a human body, and theft of a motor vehicle.

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Nikita Sandra Cook is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping connected to Laverdiere’s death. She is facing five other separate prior charges that pre-date the current ones.

Her case was also adjourned for election or plea on the provincial court matters. Her more serious charges have been committed to the Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford and are in the pre-trial stage.

Soaring Eagle Whitstone’s legal counsel also received disclosure from the Crown.

Whitstone is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

For Nicole Cook the court heard her defence counsel also received a hard drive with a terabyte of disclosure.

She is facing charges of first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Nicole Cook, Nikita Sandra Cook, and Whitstone are all scheduled to return to court Jan. 17.

Nicole is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle, whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27 on the Thunderchild First Nation.

All of the accused must continue to abide by a no contact order for a list of 25 individuals.

Four others are also facing charges in connection to Laverdiere’s homicide.

Brent Checkosis is charged with accessory after the fact to murder, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Mavis Takakenew is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.

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

Laverdiere, 25, was reported missing on May 12 and last seen in North Battleford on May 1. 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.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW