Roderick Sutherland was convicted of manslaughter in connection with the 2020 killing of Megan Gallagher, as determined by a 12-person jury at Court of King’s Bench in Saskatoon. The verdict was delivered on Friday afternoon after the jury’s second day of deliberations. In addition to manslaughter, Sutherland was also found guilty of unlawful confinement and disrespecting human remains.
The courtroom was filled with Megan’s family and friends who reacted with gasps, sobs, and embraces as the verdict was announced to Justice John Morrall. Megan’s father, Brian Gallagher, expressed a sense of relief upon hearing the guilty verdicts, mentioning that it felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. He added that it had been a challenging journey since Megan’s disappearance five years and 27 days earlier.
Describing Megan as a joyful and compassionate individual, Brian highlighted her selflessness and willingness to assist others. The legal process for the Gallagher family began when Megan vanished under suspicious circumstances, with law enforcement suspecting foul play shortly after her disappearance in September 2020. It took two years to locate her remains near the South Saskatchewan River.
During the trial, disturbing details emerged about the events leading to Gallagher’s death, revealing that she had been tied up, assaulted, and murdered by a group of individuals in a Saskatoon garage. Multiple people were implicated in her disappearance and death, with different individuals facing various charges.
Sutherland’s trial commenced on October 6, with the defence arguing that he attempted to intervene when the situation escalated in the garage. However, the prosecution contended that Sutherland played a significant role in the events that led to Gallagher’s demise, despite not being the direct perpetrator.
Following the jury’s decision, Sutherland was immediately taken into custody as requested by the Crown. The sentencing is scheduled for December 19, with the defence considering a provincial jail term and the prosecution seeking a longer sentence in the double digits, highlighting the severity of the case.