A second individual in the Tiki Laverdiere murder case appeared for sentencing in Queen’s Bench court in Battleford Monday afternoon.
Mavis Takakenew entered a guilty plea Monday to the charge of accessory after the fact to the murder of Laverdiere. She returns to Queen’s Bench Court on March 25 at 4 p.m. for the decision on sentencing.
Police brought Takakenew to the Battleford court house around 1:15 p.m. The sentencing hearing began shortly after 2 p.m. and continued throughout the afternoon before Justice Gerald Allbright.
Prosecutor Chris Browne appeared for the Crown, while Takakenew was represented by Lisa Watson.
Takakewew is the second individual to enter guilty pleas in the case. Earlier that morning at Queen’s Bench court, the sentencing hearing took place for Brent Checkosis, who had pled guilty to accessory after the fact to murder in December. Checkosis is due to return to Queen’s Bench court March 25 at 2 p.m. for a decision on sentence.
Both Takakenew and Checkosis are among eight individuals accused in the Laverdiere case. Six other individuals face first-degree murder changes in the case and those matters remain before the courts.
Publication bans have been imposed on all evidence presented during both the Checkosis and Takakenew sentencing hearings on Monday. The reason, said Browne to reporters, is that "the interests of justice require that we not share those for reasons that include the potential contamination of juries. We don't want people to come into the other matters with preconceived ideas on what the facts are, what the ranges are. We want the jury pool to remain as neutral and ready to do their job as possible."
Victim impact statements were submitted in court for both matters Monday. Browne confirmed that "we heard today from several very emotional victim impact statements from the family of Tiki Laverdiere."
The family and supporters of Tiki Laverdiere were at the court house Monday, including her mother Carol and other family members.
After the day's proceedings, Tiki's uncle Doug Laverdiere told reporters "we'd like everyone to know how good she was. She wasn't a bad person... she was harmless. She had the biggest heart, there's no comparison."
