Nikita Cook is scheduled for trial in 2021. (supplied/RCMP)

By Angela Brown

Homicide Investigation

Nikita Cook to stand trial next year connected to Tiki Laverdiere death

Jan 3, 2020 | 12:00 PM

One of the eight people accused in the Tiki Laverdiere homicide investigation will be headed to trial next year.

Nikita Cook, 31, of Onion Lake Cree Nation, is facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. She will stand trial at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford from Jan. 11 to March 5, 2021.

Seven 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.

Sangster, Thomas, Whitstone and Nicole Cook are scheduled to return to North Battleford provincial court Jan. 17. Orthner’s case has been adjourned to Jan. 31.

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Nicole is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle, whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27, 2019 on the Thunderchild First Nation.

Brent Checkosis, 18, pleaded guilty at Queen’s Bench Court Dec. 20 to accessory after the fact to the murder of Laverdiere on May 1 in North Battleford. He did not enter any plea to the outstanding charges of improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Checkosis was injured during a stabbing at the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre on Aug. 22.

He will return to Queen’s Bench Court Feb. 10 for sentencing.

Mavis Takakenew is charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Her case will return to court in North Battleford Jan. 17.

Laverdiere, 25, was reported missing on May 12, 2019. She was 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.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW