Two of the eight people charged in the Tiki Laverdiere murder case appeared by closed circuit television in North Battleford Provincial Court Friday, Sept. 27. Both had their matters adjourned to Nov 1.
Nicole Cook, who faces a first-degree murder charge, a well as kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle, saw her matters adjourned at the request of defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle, who phoned in to the proceedings. He said he is awaiting significant disclosure from the Crown.
Crown prosecutor Chris Browne said he expected to provide defence with a “more fulsome package” of disclosure next week.
Cook will remain in custody by law in relation to the first-degree murder charge and by consent of the Crown and defence on the other charges. She is in custody in Edmonton.
Cook is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle of Edmonton, himself the victim of a homicide, whose funeral Laverdiere, a 25-year-old woman from Edmonton, had attended just before her disappearance in June.
Also appearing in North Battleford Provincial Court Friday was Soaring Eagle Whitstone. She appeared by closed circuit television from Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert.
Like Cook, she faces a first-degree murder charge, a well as kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. Her matters were also adjourned to Nov. 1 at the request of Crown prosecutor Brown, who is expecting more disclosure on the murder charge.
Defence lawyer Blaine Beaven, by telephone, agreed by a joint request for adjournment, saying he has all disclosure expected.
Whitstone will remain in custody by law in relation to the murder charge and by consent in relation to the other charges.
In both cases, Brown asked Judge Murray Pelletier to make permanent the interim publication ban on the no-contact list imposed on both women.
Eight people have been arrested and charged for the murder of Laverdiere. Along with Whitstone and Nicole Cook, others charged first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle are Shayla Orthner and Danita Thomas.
Nikita Cook is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Jesse Sangster, originally charged with accessory after the fact to murder and theft of a motor vehicle, saw his charges upgraded to first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.
Brent Checkosis and Mavis Takakenew, are charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Checkosis is also charged with improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.
On July 11, North Battleford RCMP and the RCMP Major Crime Unit were conducting a ground search in a rural area outside of North Battleford when a police dog with the North Battleford RCMP Police Dog Services Unit discovered human remains.
On July 17, RCMP announced the remains were determined to be those of Laverdiere.
