deadmonton 2005 - nina louise courtepatte - the "cindy" trial
march 13th, 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.


Michael Erin Briscoe and Joseph Wesley Laboucan were awaiting a judge's decision in their own trial as the case against a second teen, nicknamed "Cindy" for the purpose of this narrative, began.


Cindy, now 19, was Michael Briscoe's girlfriend and she already testified as a Crown witness at his trial.


<< march 12th, 2007 | the "cindy" trial | march 14th, 2007 >>



The trial of Cindy followed the same pattern charted earlier in the case against Michael Briscoe and Joseph Laboucan with the owner of the Edmonton Springs Golf Course taking the stand.


On April 4th, 2005 Mike Kachuk spent the day riding on his golf cart around the property inspecting the greens when he spotted something unusual at about 2:40 in the afternoon.


Kachuk came across what he thought was a tarp that had blown off a load of lumber. He walked closer and saw it was a body.


Thinking it was somebody having a nap he said, "Get up lazy, you can't be sleeping here."


There was no response.


Kachuk walked closer and he could see the person was dead.


He made his way back to the clubhouse and called the police.


The man was so rattled by what he saw that he couldn't give proper directions and his daughter had to help him out.


In video footage shown by CTV Edmonton during the Briscoe-Laboucan trial, Kachuk can be seen pointing out where he found Nina's body.


CTV Edmonton image CTV Edmonton image

Kachuk told the court he no longer owned the golf course.


At the earlier trial he explained he had a granddaughter about the same age as Nina and that the gruesome discovery still haunted him.



The trial continues.


The trial continued March 14th, 2007