Seven of the eight suspects in the Tiki Laverdiere murder case were in North Battleford Provincial Court Friday of last week.
It turned out to be the most significant day yet in the case as preliminary hearing dates have been set for three of the suspects.
Jesse Sangster appeared by closed-circuit TV and has elected trial by Queen’s Bench judge and jury on first-degree murder, kidnapping and interference with a human body charges, all connected to the May 1 death of Laverdiere. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin June 9, and will run for three weeks in North Battleford Provincial Court in courtroom 2. A case management meeting is scheduled of March 2 at 8:45 a.m. in courtroom 2. Sangster is remanded until then.
Soaring Eagle Whitstone also appeared by video and is also scheduled for preliminary hearings for her charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping and interference with a human body. It has been scheduled for the first three weeks of November, beginning Nov. 2 in provincial court. Case management has been scheduled for Aug. 17 at 8:45 a.m. in provincial court.
On two other charges stemming from 2018, Whitstone entered guilty pleas in provincial court. Both were breach of probation charges. The Crown and defence made a joint submission for a sentence of 45 days. Counting towards that sentence will be the 30 days Whitstone has already served in remand, credited at 1.5 to 1.
Danita Thomas also appeared by video and her preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 30 for her counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping and interference with a human body. Like the others, this would run for three weeks through the week of Dec. 14.
The preliminary hearing dates are being scheduled seperately for those three individuals and not all together at once. According to Crown prosecutor Chris Browne in speaking to reporters, “the intention of the Crown is to call the individuals against each other. Its our position they provided statements and we wish to use those statements against all individuals.”
Depending on the evidence presented at the Sangster preliminary hearing, it is possible the Ministry of Justice could seek a directed indictment of the other individuals. Browne said the justice minister would need to sign off on that, but no decision has been made to this point.
Three other facing charges also had their matters appear in provincial court Friday. Brent Checkosis has already pled guilty in Queen’s Bench court to accessory to murder and will be sentenced Feb. 10. His court appearance in North Battleford Friday was related to other provincial court charges and that has been adjourned to Feb. 21.
Nikita Cook has already been committed to stand trial for first-degree murder in Queen’s Bench court. Her matters are due back in provincial court Feb. 21.
Nicole Cook, who also is charged with first-degree murder, had been scheduled to appear by video from Edmonton but her appearance was waived due to issues in arranging video from the cells. Her matters have been adjourned by consent to Friday, Feb. 21.
The other Laverdiere accused to appear by video was Mavis Takakenew, who faces one count of accessory to murder.
Her lawyer, Lisa Watson, appeared by phone with instructions to consent to her committal to Queen’s Bench court. Takakenew’s matters are due to come up in Queen’s Bench court Jan. 24 for pretrial. She is remanded in custody.
In total, seven of the eight charged had their matters in provincial court Friday. The only one who didn’t was Shayla Orthner, charged with first-degree murder, whose next scheduled court date is Jan. 31.
