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At Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench on Wednesday, sentencing was delayed for two women who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Megan Gallagher case.
A water main break in the area caused the courthouse to close its operations while crews worked on repairs.
Saskatoon Kings Bench was closed on Wednesday due to a water main break. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)
In a packed courtroom, Justice Mona Dovell adjourned sentencing submissions for Cheyann Crystal Peeteetuce and Summer-Sky Henry until Feb. 6.
Thirty-nine days were set aside for the first-degree murder trial that began on Jan 6. It abruptly ended last week when both women pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Read more:
- ‘Justice will be done’: Murder trial begins for accused in Gallagher case
- Gallagher family disappointed with guilty plea at murder trial
- Megan Gallagher’s parents prepare for ‘next chapter’ after killer sentenced
Gallagher was last seen on video surveillance at a convenience store on Diefenbaker Drive in September 2020. Her remains were found along the South Saskatchewan River two years later.
On Wednesday, Gallagher’s friends and family, including her mother, stepmother and sister, stood outside the courthouse.
Brian Gallagher, her father, told reporters he was surprised by the delay.
“Mother Nature is having her way, and we just have to roll with the punches,” Brian said.
“Life is what it is. It throws you curves.”
Megan Gallagher’s father Brian Gallagher and step-mother Debbie Gallagher outside of Saskatoon’s Kings Bench. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)
He said his victim impact statement was prepared and rehearsed, a challenging process that took multiple days to put together.
This is not the first or last victim impact statement he will make regarding his daughter.
“The reality is that this is the only time that we get to speak to the courts about it,” Brian said.
“To prepare these statements, especially in a case like this one, it’s four and a half years. You go through a whole range of emotions.”
Dovell granted an interim publication ban applied for by Crown prosecutor Tyla Olenchuk, preventing any details including evidence and victim impact statements from being published.
The publication ban will protect the upcoming jury trials for Thomas Sutherland and Roderick Sutherland who are also charged in connection to Gallagher’s death.
Two media outlets are challenging the ban, which will be heard in court on Jan 29.
On Dec. 6 at Saskatoon’s King’s Bench, 29-year-old Robert James Joseph Thomas was sentenced to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Gallagher.
A total of nine people were arrested in connection to Gallagher’s death.