BATTLEFORD – A judge is expected to hand down his verdict March 25 in Battleford Court of Queen's Bench for a North Battleford woman charged in the death of 25-year-old Tiki Laverdiere of Edmonton.
Danita Thomas’ trial started Jan. 24 and concluded Feb. 15. She is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, theft of a vehicle, and improperly interfering with a body.
Judge Richard W. Elson of Saskatoon had reserved his verdict and held a conference call March 8 with North Battleford Senior Crown Chris Browne and Prosecutor Charlotte Morden and defence Erin Little of Saskatoon to set the date to hand down his decision.
Ten people were charged in Laverdiere's murder and five have been sentenced.
Laverdiere was reported missing to Battlefords RCMP on May 12, 2019. On June 10, 2019, RCMP announced that Laverdiere’s disappearance was the result of foul play and they would be investigating her disappearance 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.
There is a ban on publication of all preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings until the trials of all the co-accused are concluded.
The charges against the remaining co-accused haven’t been proven in court.
