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

By Angela Brown

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

Nikita Cook, 31, of the Onion Lake Cree Nation is facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. She’s to 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.

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

Brent Checkosis, 18, pleaded guilty at Court of Queen’s Bench on 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’s to return to Court of Queen’s Bench on Feb. 10 for sentencing.

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

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