Edmonton woman Tiki Laverdiere, 25, was last seen in North Battleford. Her remains were discovered outside the city last year. (Supplied photo/Battlefords RCMP)

By Angela Brown

Homicide investigation

New preliminary hearing date set for accused in Laverdiere death

Jun 8, 2020 | 5:10 PM

A new preliminary hearing date has been set for one of the six remaining accused charged in connection to the death of Tiki Brook-Lyn Laverdiere.

Jesse Sangster, charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle, was previously scheduled for a hearing starting June 22.

The hearing date was adjourned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The hearing is rescheduled to start Sept. 28 and will run for three weeks at North Battleford Provincial Court. Sangster’s case management meeting is set for July 17. He elected to be tried by judge and jury.

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

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Cook, whose case has moved to Queen’s Bench Court, is to be scheduled for an upcoming pre-trial meeting.

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

Soaring Eagle Whitstone is due back in court for a pre-trial meeting Aug. 17.

Danita Thomas is set for a case management meeting Aug. 4.

Shayla Orthner was scheduled for a pre-trial meeting Monday.

Nikita Sandra Cook is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. She is scheduled to stand trial at Battleford Queen’s Bench Court next year, on Jan. 11, 2021.

All of the accused remain in custody.

Two other individuals were previously sentenced.

After pleading guilty in December 2019, Brent Checkosis was sentenced May 15 to seven years in prison for the charge of accessory after the fact to murder. Court confirmed the two remaining charges of improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle were stayed.

Mavis Takakenew was sentenced on May 15 to an 18-month jail sentence for accessory after the fact to murder. She pleaded guilty in February 2020.

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

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW