Supporters show up in force as 2 accused in death of Tiki Laverdiere make first court appearance

It was an emotional day in North Battleford, as two people charged in connection to the death of Tiki Laverdiere appeared in court on Friday morning.

Nicole Cook, 36, is charged with first-degree murder in Laverdiere's death, along with kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle and improperly interfering with a human body.

When Cook entered the courtroom, she made direct eye contact with Carol Laverdiere, the mother of the victim.

"I was boiling, I was mad, I was sick. How else would I feel to see somebody that took away my baby?" Carol said of her feelings on seeing Cook in court.

One woman strode out of the courtroom abruptly after Cook's appearance, and yelled at Laverdiere family supporters who were standing outside at the time.

Jesse Sangster, 23, has also been charged with accessory after the fact to murder and theft of a motor vehicle. Both Cook and Sangster were arrested this week by police.

Both were remanded in custody until their next court appearance on Aug. 30.

In May, Laverdiere disappeared while attending a funeral in North Battleford, Sask. Two months later, police confirmed they had found her body near the city.

Five people in total have now been charged in connection to Laverdiere's death.

In July, 18-year-old Brent Checkosis was charged with accessory to murder after the fact, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Checkosis requested to appear in person at his next court appearance. That request was denied and he is set to appear via video on Sept. 6.

Several days earlier, RCMP also charged 27-year-old Shayla Orthner and 32-year-old Danita Thomas with first-degree murder, improperly interfering with human remains, kidnapping and theft of a vehicle.

Orthner and Thomas both appeared via video on Friday and are set to appear in court again on Sept. 6.

Cook is the mother of Tristen Morningeagle Cook-Buckle, the man whose funeral Laverdiere was attending when she disappeared.

In a previous interview, Cook said she was a close friend of Laverdiere and asked whomever was responsible for her death to come forward.

Outside of court, Carol said that statement was a lie to "cover up what she had done.

"My daughter did not know anybody from here and she came here to be beside Nicole, because she was burying her son," Carol said. "She's just trying to be here for Nicole, and something terrible happened."

Family of missing woman Ashley Morin shows support

Laverdiere's motherarrived at the courthouse flanked by supporters, including members of Ashley Morin's family. Morin was last seen in North Battleford before goingmissing more thana year ago, and police recently said her case is being investigated as a homicide.

Throughout the day,Laverdiere's mother was surrounded by a large group of women in red T-shirts in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

The shirts bore the words "Justice 4 Tiki" accompanied by a photo of the young woman.

Krista Fox, spokesperson for the group appearing in honour ofMorin, held her arm around Laverdiere's mom as she watched each suspect appear in their prison clothes on the screen.

"I've been to every single court case and I will continue to stand in for Carol when she can't be here and I will stand beside her when she is here," Fox said.

After the appearances on Friday, tears flowed outside as supporters hugged Carol Laverdiere and expressed their support for her.