Edmonton woman Tiki Laverdiere, 25, was last seen in North Battleford before her remains were discovered outside the city in 2019. (Supplied photo/Battlefords RCMP)

By Angela Brown

RCMP investigation

Trial underway for one more of accused in Tiki Laverdiere homicide

Jan 24, 2022 | 1:59 PM

The trial is now underway for another of the individuals facing charges in the death of Tiki Laverdiere.

Dressed in a black suit, Danita Thomas, 34, of North Battleford, pleaded not guilty to the charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle when she appeared in court Monday.

Crown prosecutors Chris Browne and Charlotte Morden are handling the case, with attorney Erin Little for the defence, and Justice Richard W. Elson presiding.

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.

The Court of Queen’s Bench trial is being held at the Dekker Centre’s Lawrence Hall in North Battleford as the Battleford Court House is currently undergoing renovations. COVID-19 protocols and social distancing measures are in place during the proceedings.

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Four others accused are still facing charges connected to Laverdiere’s death.

Jesse Sangster, 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’s jury trial will take place in 2023. Orthner, Whitstone and Nicole Cook are scheduled for jury trials later this year.

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

Five other individuals have previously been sentenced.

Nikita Cook, who was found guilty of first-degree murder following her trial last year, was sentenced to life in prison in October 2021. She will not be eligible for parole for 25 years.

Samuel Takakenew was sentenced to 12 months or one year in custody in Dec. 2021 after pleading guilty to accessory after the fact to murder.

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, 2020.

Brent Checkosis and Mavis Takakenew were sentenced in May 2020 after previously pleading guilty to the charge of accessory after the fact to murder. Checkosis was sentenced to seven years in prison while Mavis Takakenew received 18 months incarceration.

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