Roderick Sutherland has been convicted of manslaughter in relation to the 2020 killing of Megan Gallagher, as decided by a 12-member jury at the Court of King’s Bench in Saskatoon. The jury rendered its verdict on the second day of deliberations, also finding Sutherland guilty of unlawful confinement and desecrating human remains. Megan’s family and friends, present in the courtroom, reacted with gasps, sobs, and embraces as the jury delivered the verdict to Justice John Morrall.
Brian Gallagher, Megan’s father, expressed relief outside the court, stating that the guilty verdicts felt like a weight lifted off his chest. He conveyed a sense of spiritual connection, believing that his deceased grandparents and the Creator were pleased and at peace. Brian emphasized the emotional toll of the five-year journey since Megan’s disappearance, expressing the deep void left by her absence.
Describing Megan as a cheerful, humorous, and caring individual, Brian recalled her selfless nature and willingness to assist others. The legal proceedings marked another chapter in the Gallagher family’s quest for justice that commenced following Megan’s mysterious disappearance at the age of 30. Despite suspicions of foul play early on, it took two years to locate Megan’s remains by the South Saskatchewan River, leading to revelations of the brutal circumstances surrounding her demise.
During the trial, distressing accounts of Megan’s tragic fate emerged, revealing she had been bound to a chair, assaulted, and ultimately killed by a group of individuals in a Saskatoon garage. Nine individuals were implicated in her disappearance and death, with varying degrees of culpability. Notably, Roderick Sutherland’s trial, which began on October 6, featured contrasting arguments from the defense and the Crown regarding his level of involvement and responsibility in the tragic events.
Following the guilty verdict, the Crown requested Sutherland’s immediate custody, highlighting the severity of his role in Megan’s agonizing ordeal. Despite defense arguments for his continued bail release, Justice Morrall ruled in favor of Sutherland’s detention. The sentencing is scheduled for December 19, with the defense aiming for a provincial jail term while the Crown seeks a more severe punishment in the double-digit range.
