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By Angela Brown, battlefordsNOW
Five of eight charged in the death of Tiki Brook-Lyn Laverdiere returned to court Friday and one had a date set for pre-trial.
Brent Checkosis appeared via closed-circut television from the Regina Correctional Centre, Jesse Sangster appeared via CCTV from the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre, and Mavis Takakenew, Shayla Orthner and Danita Thomas appeared via CCTV from Pine Grove Correctional Centre.
Checkosis is charged with accessory after the fact to murder, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle in connection to Laverdiere’s death.
For these charges, he is scheduled for a private pre-trial meeting at Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford on Dec. 20. His initial pre-trial case management session started Nov. 1.
For nine separate charges, his case has been adjourned to Jan. 17, 2020 in provincial court.
Checkosis was injured during a stabbing at the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre on Aug. 22.
Sangster’s case was adjourned to Dec. 13 as his defence counsel is awaiting more disclosure from the Crown. He is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.
Orthner, Thomas and Takakenew’ had their cases adjourned to Dec. 20 as their defence lawyers are also awaiting additional evidence.
Orthner and Thomas are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. Takakenew is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
During court, Takakenew appeared to hold back tears as she asked if she could speak to some of the individuals on the list she was ordered not to contact, but was told the order must remain in place as it pertains to the investigation.
When Thomas appeared she inquired about when a preliminary hearing date could be set.
Crown prosecutor Chris Browne said he is waiting for a significant amount of additional disclosure from the RCMP and that a preliminary hearing could take as long as two or three weeks in her case, if and whene one were to be set.
The judge stressed the serious nature and complexity of the case, saying it involves a “massive investigation,” adding a hearing probably wouldn’t start until sometime in the new year.
Three others are facing charges in connection to Laverdiere’s homicide.
Nikita Sandra Cook is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, and both 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.
Nicole is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle, whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27 on the Thunderchild First Nation.
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.
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