Hostage victim tortured and cut with large knife: court

Despite the circumstances, Nigal Hunt-Best appeared to be in a good mood. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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According to the agreed statement of facts the offences occurred between Feb. 23 and Feb. 25, 2023. The victim who was 40 at the time, was voluntarily taken for a ride to a house in Duck Lake by Mike and Hunt-Best.

Laliberte was already at the house, and after the vehicle arrived, he along with Mike assaulted the victim.

The woman’s purse and all its contents including ID, health card, credit card and debit card were taken from her. Two weddings rings were also taken by Mike.

The victim was then forced, under threats of further assault, to unlock and hand over her cellphone.

“Laliberte and Mike laughed at the victim while this was happening, and Mike poured bleach on her,” the facts stated.

The victim was then called names and told to say humiliating things about herself, and was punched or kicked by Laliberte or Mike when she resisted. The victim was also on several occasions instructed to take pills.

“Laliberte told the victim they were going to kill her and bury her.”

The victim was then placed into the backseat of a vehicle and driven to the Giant Tiger store in Prince Albert. Hunt-Best was behind the wheel and Laliberte and Mike had imitation firearms that the victim believed to be real.

Upon arrival, Hunt-Best went inside the store and purchased several items including duct tape.

All four then travelled to a house in Prince Albert and what’s where the victim was subjected to further assaults. Laliberte also cut her arm with a large knife.

She was then given more drugs and pills and placed in a bedroom where she slept.

Due to his criminal record, Derrick Laliberte has been flagged as a dangerous offender. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

When she awoke, the victim was instructed by Mike to take a shower and was watched while doing so. She was later put back in the bedroom and the three accused engaged in the consumption of drugs and alcohol.

At one point the victim was able to sneak out of the bedroom and grabbed a cellphone. On February 25, she called 9-1-1- and informed the dispatcher she was being held hostage.

Members of the Prince Albert Police Service attended and after initial calls for someone to open the door were ignored, proceeded to enter by forced means. They detained both the accused and the victim.

“The victim was noted to have several bruises on her face, arms and legs as well as a laceration on her arm,” the facts said.

At the time of their arrest, the trio were also accused of conspiring to commit murder, however, that charge was later stayed by the Crown.

While the emotional victim testified at the preliminary inquiry, she was not present at the sentencing hearing and declined to provide a victim impact statement.

In his submissions, Crown Prosecutor Keith Amyotte noted had the case gone to trial there would have been significant evidentiary and witness issues, and described the case as a “he said, she said”

With respect to aggravating factors, Amyotte noted the fact the incident occurred over a lengthy period of time, and left the victim with emotional trauma.

When asked by Justice D.E. Labach what the motive was for the assault, Amyotte could not provide an answer, and stated the victim did not share the details.

Amyotte’s concerns with respect to witness’s reliability were shared by Mike’s lawyer, Sam Jomha.

“It doesn’t make any reasonable or logical sense,” he said.

Jomha also noted Mike’s own remorse, and plans to be a better mother for her own children.

“It’s gonna change her life going forward,” he said.

In turn, Laliberte’s lawyer Mike Nolan noted at the preliminary inquiry upon hearing the victim’s testimony, and seeing the emotional impact his actions had on her, he wanted to take responsibility.

Nolan also noted Laliberte has shown good behaviour while housed at the penitentiary and is deeply affected the disappearance two weeks ago of his own brother.

paNOW has learned the brother is Dalllas Fulton, who was also named as a suspect after a car jacking in the Prince Albert area. The victim was shot in the arm, before the suspects fled north and were followed to a wooded area near Thunder Rapids. Fulton’s family is worried he may have succumbed to the elements.

“That’s like really messed up my brain,” Laliberte said when given the opportunity to speak.

He then noted his own personal desire to be home to support his family.

Mike declined comment and Hunt-Best, who owns a fencing company in Saskatoon, apologized.

“I don’t plan on seeing the inside of a jail cell or a courtroom ever again,” he said.

At the end of Monday’s hearing, Justice Labach, citing a need to review the evidence, reserved his decision one day. On Tuesday, he accepted the joint submission and said the case had striking similarities to the Meghan Gallagher and Tiki Laverdiere cases. Both also involved multiple accused and disturbing acts of violence.

“That is not acceptable to our society,” Labach said.

All three have been in jail since the offences and accumulated over 920 days in remand credit. Laliberte has two years left to serve, while Mike has nine months and Hunt-Best was granted time served.

They’re all prohibited for life from owning or possessing any firearms or explosives and must submit DNA to the national data bank. Hunt-Best, the only offender with an income, was ordered to pay $400 in victim surcharges.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

by Nigel Maxwell

Hostage victim tortured and cut with large knife: court

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