The non-jury trial for one of ten people charged in connection to the death of Tiki Laverdiere begins today (Mon) in North Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench. Danita Thomas is charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and vehicle theft.

On April 27th of 2019, 25 year old Laverdiere of Edmonton was in the North Battleford area for the funeral of 20 year old Tristen Cook-Buckle. She was reported missing in May and in July her remains were found in a rural area outside of North Battleford.

In 2020, Brent Checkosis was sentenced to seven years on charges of accessory after the fact to murder and Mavis Takakenew was given 18 months for the same charge. Last January, Charles St. Savard was sentenced to 14 months and 20 days in jail for kidnapping with intent to unlawfully confine. Then, later in the year, Nikita Cook was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years. Last month Samuel Takakenew pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and was sentenced to time served.

Nicole Cook, Jesse Sangster, Shayla Orther and Soaring Eagle Whitstone are also charged with first degree murder, kidnapping and improperly interfering with a human body and vehicle theft, with their trial dates set for dates between now and March of 2023.