BATTLEFORD – A 36-year-old Onion Lake woman charged with first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Tiki Laverdiere of Edmonton has been handed a life sentence with no parole for 25 years.
Justice Brian Scherman handed down a guilty verdict Friday in Battleford Court of King’s Bench. Soaring Eagle Whitstone was also found guilty of unlawful confinement, and improperly interfering with human remains, and theft of a vehicle.
She was sentenced to two years concurrent on the interfering with human remains charge and 90 days concurrent on the theft of a vehicle charge. The Crown asked for a stay on the unlawful confinement charge, which the judge granted.
Whitstone's judge alone trial was held in Battleford Court of King's Bench in September.
There is a ban on the publication of all preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings until the trials of all the co-accused are concluded.
Defence Chris Gratton from Saskatoon represents Whitstone. North Battleford Senior Crown Chris Browne and Prosecutor Charlotte Morden are trying the cases of the 10 people accused in Laverdiere's murder.
Laverdiere was reported missing to Battlefords RCMP on May 12, 2019, and one month later, RCMP announced that her disappearance was the result of foul play and they would be investigating her death as a homicide.
On July 11, 2019, a police dog found Laverdiere's remains in a rural area outside of North Battleford while RCMP were conducting a ground search.
Laverdiere was in Saskatchewan April 2019 for the funeral of 20-year-old Tristen Cook-Buckle on Thunderchild First Nation.
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