deadmonton 2005 - nina louise courtepatte - the "cindy" trial
march 26th, 2007

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Nina Louise Courtepatte, 13, died from blunt force trauma on April 3rd, 2005.


Two adults and three teens, not identified by provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, were charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.


Verdicts in the trial of Michael Erin Briscoe and Joseph Wesley Laboucan were announced on March 23rd, 2007. Laboucan was found guilty of first-degree murder while Briscoe was acquitted on all charges.


<< march 20th, 2007 | the "cindy" trial



The split verdict in the Briscoe-Laboucan trial drew the attention of CBC's National news program, which carried a brief but concise summary of the trial.


CBC image CBC Edmonton image CBC Edmonton image

Absent from the media spotlight of the day was Peacha Atkinson, Nina's mother.


While the trial of Joseph Laboucan and Michael Briscoe has ended, for the diminutive aboriginal woman reliving the ordeal of her daughter's death had yet to finish.


However, during a break in the "Cindy" trial and three days after Justice Burrows' decision, Atkinson spoke to CTV Edmonton's David Ewasuk about how she felt when the verdicts for Briscoe and Laboucan were read.


CTV Edmonton image
CTV Edmonton image

"Numb. That's about it because you never know what the judge is going to decide. I stayed that way for the whole day."


She said her daughter's spirit was near her when Laboucan was convicted of first-degree murder.


"I felt that Nina was finally – how would you say it – satisfied with what happened, she would have been happy with what happened."


But Atkinson said she would reserve her opinion of Michael Briscoe and the support he received from his family.


"I'm sure that he was brought up properly and that his parents showed him right from wrong and I can't ever take that from them."


"But I have to collect my thoughts and I do not want to jeopardise anything that's coming up or may come up," she said referring to the current trial and one set to take place May 1st.


“Until everything is over and said and done, that's when I'll make up my mind,” Atkinson said.


Having sat through three preliminary hearings and one main trial, along with the hearing where Pyro admitted guilt to first-degree murder she admitted, “It's been tiring, straining, just basically getting run down.”


“But when they see me sitting there, they see Nina. And that's why I'm there.”


Atkinson said she had no issue with Briscoe's father Albert clapping in the courtroom after Briscoe was found not guilty.


“I thought, ‘Good for him,' because if it was my child I would have clapped, too.”


Atkinson said she felt some sympathy for the Briscoes.


“I don't hate them. I'm sure they did a good job bringing up their children as best as they could. I know their hearts are glad that he's out of jail, and I am kind of glad for that, because at least they get to hug him.”


Akinson announced that on March 31st the Courtepatte family was planning to hold a traditional round dance to honour Nina.


The event was to be held at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, 11205 101 Street, from five to midnight and the general public was welcome.


Akinson said her daughter enjoyed going to pow wows and watching aboriginal dancers perform in their traditional dress.


“When the public could dance, she would go up their and dance,” she recalled for the Edmonton Sun.


The families of murdered teens Shane Rolston and Josh Hunt were also expected to attend.


“The feast and dancing is in honour of the loved ones that passed on,” Atkinson said. She described the event as more of a celebration than a wake.


“The pain and everything will all be there, but it's to honour their life. People will be remembering the happy memories.”


Atkinson said she had collected nearly 1,000 signatures so far on her petition to the federal government, calling for youth charged in “horrendous crimes” to be tried in adult court and be publicly identified.


She hoped to gather about 500,000 signatures by August 2007 and planned to personally deliver the petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa.


“I'm going all the way to the top,” she said. “If not him, then the closest person I can get to.”


Update: On March 30th, 2007 Peacha Atkinson launched a new petition calling for an appeal of Michael Briscoe's acquittal.



The "Cindy" trial continues.


Media resources, usually relied on by the Last Link, have chosen not to provide daily coverage of this trial.


The resumption of regular updates is hopefully anticipated.