Roderick Sutherland has been convicted of manslaughter in relation to the 2020 killing of Megan Gallagher, as determined by a 12-member jury at the Court of King’s Bench in Saskatoon. The verdict was delivered on Friday after two days of jury deliberations, with Sutherland also found guilty of unlawful confinement and desecration of human remains.
Emotions ran high as Megan’s family and friends, seated in the front row, reacted with gasps, sobs, and hugs when the verdict was announced to Justice John Morrall. Megan’s father, Brian Gallagher, expressed a sense of relief upon hearing the guilty verdicts, stating that it felt as though a weight had been lifted from his chest. He shared his belief that Megan’s grandparents and the Creator were watching over them, finally at peace after the long journey since her disappearance.
Describing Megan as a joyful, humorous, and compassionate individual, Brian lamented the loss of the opportunity to reunite with her. The Gallagher family’s legal ordeal began five years ago when Megan vanished under suspicious circumstances. Police suspected foul play early on, but it took two years to locate her remains along the South Saskatchewan River, approximately 105 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon.
During the trial, disturbing details emerged regarding the events leading to Gallagher’s death, revealing that she had been tied to a chair, assaulted, and ultimately killed by a group of individuals in a Saskatoon garage. Nine individuals were implicated in her disappearance and demise, with varying charges and sentences for those involved.
Roderick Sutherland’s trial commenced on October 6, with the defense arguing that he had attempted to intervene once the situation escalated in the garage. However, the Crown contended that Sutherland’s involvement from beginning to end, despite not being the direct perpetrator, warranted his guilt in the crimes.
Following the jury’s decision, Sutherland was remanded into custody at the Crown’s request, citing the severity of the offenses committed. Despite the defense’s plea for his continued release, Justice Morrall ordered his immediate detention. Sutherland’s sentencing is set for December 19, with the defense seeking a provincial jail term and the Crown pursuing a sentence in the double digits.
