A tenth person has been charged in connection with the murder of Tiki Brook-Lyn Laverediere.
On August 26, 2020, the Edmonton Police Service arrested a 36-year-old man wanted by the RCMP MCU-North on a Canada-wide warrant for his role in Tiki Laverdiere's murder.
Samuel Takakenew was charged on August 4, 2020, with Accessory after the fact to Murder, contrary to Section 23(1) and 240 of the Criminal Code. Takakanew had been living in the city of Edmonton, since the time of Laverdiere's murder.
Takakenew remains in police custody and will be returned to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, early next week. Once back in Saskatchewan, he will be appearing in North Battleford Provincial Court, the date and time are yet to be determined.
Samuel Takakenew is the son of Mavis Quinn Takakenew who was arrested in August 2019 for her role in the death of Tiki Laverdiere.
Laverdiere’s body was found in a rural area near North Battleford in June 2019. Laverdiere, from Edmonton, was reported missing to the Battlefords RCMP on May 12, 2019, after her family last heard from her on May 1, 2019, when she sent a text message from North Battleford saying she wanted to return home.
Laverdiere was in Saskatchewan for the funeral of Tristen Cook-Buckle, 20, on Thunderchild First Nation. Cook-Buckle’s body was found burned in a vehicle near Vegreville, Alta. on April 5, 2019. The Edmonton Police are investigating Cook-Buckle’s murder.
Beginning in July 2019 RCMP started arresting people in Alberta and Saskatchewan for Laverdiere’s murder incluidng Shayla Orthner, 27, of North Battleford, Danita Thomas, 32, of North Battleford, Brent Checkosis, 18, of North Battleford, Jesse Sangster, 23, Nicole Cook, 37, of Edmonton, Soaring Eagle Whitstone, 33, of Onion Lake Cree Nation, Nikita Sandra Cook, 32, of Edmonton, and Mavis Quinn Takakenew of North Battleford.
Charles St. Savard, of Edmonton, was arrested July 2020, and Samuel Takakenew was arrested August 2020.
Charles St. Savard had an appearance scheduled in North Battleford Provincial Court on Aug. 28. His lawyer told the court that his previous instructions by his client was to consent to Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench for trial but he has new instructions to elect to be tried by judge and jury at Battleford Court of Queen’s bench with a preliminary hearing.
Crown Prosecutor Chris Browne objected to a preliminary hearing saying that he has a preliminary hearing scheduled next month on another co-accused and there are about 100 witnesses.
Judge Kevin Hill said a change in election forces an adjournment on the matter, adding that if a preliminary hearing was to go ahead for St. Savard the court would also have to find a judge without a conflict. The matter was adjourned to Sept. 18
In May 2020 Brent Checkosis was sentenced in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench to seven years in prison for accessory after the fact to the murder of Laverdiere.
Mavis Quinn Takakenew was also sentenced in May in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench to 18 months in prison on a charge of accessory to murder after the fact.
The court ordered a ban on publication on sentencing hearings for Checkosis and Takakenew until the trials of all the co-accused are finished.
Orthner was committed to stand trial in Battelford Court of Queen’s Bench on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, improper interference with a human body charges.
Nicole Cook was committed to stand trial at Queen's Bench court on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, improper interference with a human body and theft of motor vehicle.
Jesse Sangster pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and, improper interference with a human body. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June but was rescheduled to Sept. 28, Oct. 2, Oct. 5-9 and Oct. 13-16.
Danita Thomas elected to be tried in Court of Queen’s Bench on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and improper interference with a human body. A three-week preliminary hearing is scheduled in North Battleford Provincial Court starting Nov. 30.
Nikita Cook elected a Queen’s Bench judge and jury trial. The trial is scheduled for Jan 11-March 5, 2021, in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.
Whitstone’s three-week preliminary hearing is set to start Nov. 2.
The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crime Unit (MCU)-North has been investigating the homicide of Tiki Laverdiere and have continued to follow up on all information and tips since July 2019. To date, 10 people have been charged and are before the courts or have been sentenced for their roles in her death.
-With files from John Cairns
