Guilty plea for accessory to murder in Laverdiere case

Brent Checkosis has entered a plea of guilty to the charge of accessory to the murder of Tiki Laverdiere at Queen's Bench court, Battleford.

Checkosis entered the plea at his arraignment before Justice Gerald Allbright.

His next appearance is Feb 10 for sentencing. A pre-sentence report has been ordered, to be completed prior to that appearance. Gladue factors are expected to be among those canvassed in the report.

Checkosis is the first of eight individuals charged in the case to enter a guilty plea in connection to the killing of Laverdiere on May 1. Laverdiere was the young woman who had gone missing after having been to the Battlefords area to attend a funeral for Tristan Cook-Buckle on Thunderchild First Nation April 27.

The search lasted well into July. Human remains found near North Battleford were confirmed to be Laverdiere on July 16. Soon afterwards came a long line of arrests by police related to the case. 

Checkosis is one of two individuals in the Laverdiere case charged with accessory to murder; the other six face first degree murder counts.

Checkosis still faces several other unrelated charges. His provincial court charges will be back in North Battleford court on Jan. 17. No pleas have been entered so far on his other counts. 

Crown prosecutor Chris Browne confirmed to reporters outside the court house that Checkosis faces a steep prison sentence. Life imprisonment is the maximum available for accessory to murder under the Criminal Code.

A no-contact order continues, as does a publication ban on the names of those individuals. Browne told reporters that he anticipates asking for a publication ban on facts presented at the sentencing hearing, “given that the other matters are still before the courts," he said. 

The court appearance of Checkosis was brief, as he appeared in handcuffs seated beside his defence counsel George Thurlow before Justice Allbright. 

Several supporters and family members of Laverdiere were on hand in the gallery, as they have for other court appearances of individuals charged in the case. Included among them were family of Ashley Morin, another young woman who had gone missing in the Battlefords area.

Following the court appearance, family members convened in a lengthy meeting upstairs at the court house before heading out for the evening. 

Carol Laverdiere, Tiki's mother, told reporters after the proceedings she was glad someone was "owning up to what they did to Tiki."  

Doug Laverdiere, Tiki's uncle, made it known he was unimpressed with Checkosis’s reaction in court Friday.

“It’s terrible, he doesn’t show remorse or nothing, looking around, cracking his neck,” he said, referring to Checkosis's response as he entered his guilty plea. “No respect for the judge. When the judge walked in he didn’t sit up, stand up. No remorse, nothing.” 

He said family members would be starting to do their victim impact statements. “It’s going to be hard. It’s hard to see him – just a bad attitude he’s got. No respect, no remorse, that's all I can say,” Doug said.

Checkosis remains in custody until his February sentencing date.  

Also in Queen's Bench court Friday was the pretrial appearance for Nikita Cook, who faces a first degree murder charge. That was scheduled for the morning in chambers for case management and was not open to the public.

Three other individuals appeared in provincial court in North Battleford earlier in the morning. Matters for Mavis Takakenew, charged with accessory to murder, as well as Danita Thomas who faces first degree murder, kidnapping, interference to a human body and other counts, have been adjourned to Jan. 17 to appear by closed circuit TV. Both appeared by video before Judge Murray Pelletier.

Shayla Orthner, who also faces first-degree murder and other charges, also appeared by video and her matters were adjourned to Jan. 31, also by CCTV.

The reasons cited by counsel for these three latest adjournments are to allow time to review the additional disclosure provided by the Crown in the case, and to determine how things will proceed.