Trial begins in just over a year at Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench for 31 year old Nikita Sandra Cook of the Onion Lake Cree Nation. She is one of the 8 charged in connection to the disappearance and death of Tiki Laverdiere of Edmonton. Cook’s charges include first degree murder and kidnapping.

Laverdiere travelled to the North Battleford area from Edmonton for a funeral at the end of April and was last heard from on May 1st. Her remains were found on July 11th just outside of North Battleford.

Nikita Cook’s 8-week trial is scheduled for January 11th to March 5th of 2021. Five others are charged with first degree murder: Shayla Orthner, Danita Thomas, Soaring Eagle Whitstone, Nicole Cook and Jesse Sangster. Brent Checkosis and Mavis Takakenew were charged with accessory after the fact to murder. Last month, 18 year old Checkosis pleaded guilty to that charge. There is a sentencing hearing on the accessory admission February 10th in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench.