VIDEO: Sentencing submissions begin in Megan Gallagher manslaughter case

Sentencing submissions are underway for a man convicted of manslaughter for his role in the killing of Megan Gallagher at Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench.

In October, a jury found Roderick Sutherland guilty of manslaughter, unlawful confinement, and offering an indignity to human remains.

The Crown is seeking a sentence of eight to 10 years for manslaughter, with an added two to five years, served consecutively, for offering an indignity to human remains. The Crown argued on Monday that Roderick Sutherland knew what was happening to Megan Gallagher, allowed it and helped dispose of Gallagher’s body.

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The defense, however, asked for a three-and-a-half-year sentence for manslaughter and 18 months for offering an indignity to human remains.

An offense of unlawful confinement was conditionally stayed by Court of Kings Bench Judge John Morrell on Monday, following a request from the Crown.

Gallagher was killed in September 2020 by a group of people affiliated with the Terror Squad gang in the garage of Sutherland’s home on Weldon Avenue in Saskatoon.

Gallagher’s body was put in the back of a truck and thrown off the St. Louis Bridge into the South Saskatchewan River, and her remains were discovered during a police search two years later.

According to the agreed statement of facts presented in court, Sutherland was not present when Gallagher’s body was moved.

Sutherland is one of seven people convicted in connection to the death of Gallagher. Others were previously sentenced for charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter and offering an indignity to human remains.

Victim impact statements which will be read by Gallagher’s family were expected to be submitted by her birthday on April 9.

“Instead of celebrating and having cake and coffee cake, ice cream and things like that, we were busy with trembling fingers typing out our victim impact statements,” Megan’s father Brian Gallagher said.

For over five years Brian said it’s been challenging navigating the courts, calling the process “horrendous.” He added that it has required his family to adjust their lifestyles.

“It’s been a special kind of hell that I don’t think anybody should ever have to endure.”

Megan’s stepmother Deb Gallagher said the process of writing victim impact statements reactivates trauma for the family.

“You’re forced to relive it again and again,” she said.

Brian said this will be the fifth victim impact statement he has prepared, but this time, his words will not be protected by a publication ban.

“I invite everybody to read them,” he said.

Brian said he and his wife still found time to celebrate their Gallagher’s birthday with cake and ice cream, and said his daughter had a dream of becoming a Red Seal chef.

“When we prepare these meals, we’re always thinking about Megan,” Brian said.

“We want to remember Megan as she was a beautiful, talented, gifted, generous young lady.”

Family speaks at sentencing hearing

Family of Megan Gallagher spoke at Monday’s sentencing hearing. Gallagher’s father, Brian, described lasting trauma from his daughter’s “brutal” death. He said his family has been forced to relive her suffering every single day.

Gallagher’s mother, Ingrid MacColl, told the court her daughter was a strong, loving Indigenous woman. She said she feels the justice system has silenced her daughter’s voice and failed her family after watching this case unfold over the past number of years.

Read more:

• Witness recalls the night Megan Gallagher was tortured, killed in Saskatoon garage
• ‘Lackadaisical’ approach: Appeal dismissed in Taylor Kennedy impaired driving case
• Former Sask. Mountie convicted of voyeurism, having child sex abuse material

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to accurately name the offense that was stayed on Monday, April 13.