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The final person convicted in the killing of Megan Gallagher learned their fate at Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench on Wednesday, closing a case that has spanned more than five years.
“The trauma and negative effects of this loss will ripple through everyone’s lives for a long time,” Justice John Morrall said as he addressed a packed courtroom.
Morrall sentenced Roderick Sutherland to 7.5 years in prison. Sutherland received five years for manslaughter and 2.5 years for offering an indignity to human remains. With time already served, he will spend just under five years behind bars.
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“Your healing journey is something that you will hopefully be able to undertake together by remembering Megan as she was, rather than as a victim of a crime,” Morrall said when he spoke to the family.
To Sutherland, Morrall told him, “it will be up to you to change your life at this point.”
Last October, a jury found Sutherland guilty of manslaughter, unlawful confinement and offering an indignity to human remains. The unlawful confinement charge was stayed at Court of King’s Bench on April 13.
In September 2020, Gallagher was killed in Sutherland’s garage on Weldon Avenue by a group of people affiliated with the Terror Squad Gang. Her 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 found two years later.
Several victim-impact statements were read at Sutherland’s sentencing hearing earlier this month, including one from Gallagher’s father Brian who said “we are all suffering the loss of a beautiful human being.”
He described his daughter as an intelligent, loving human with an amazing sense of humour and dreams of becoming a Red Seal chef.
Since hearing the evidence presented at Sutherland’s trial, Brian said there isn’t a day where he has not relived his daughter’s “vicious, brutal, confinement.”
“I don’t have to close my eyes to see the senseless beating and taking of the life of Megan Michelle Gallagher,” he told the court.
At the end of the hearing, Sutherland, wearing a bright orange sweater, addressed the court and apologized.
“Sorry for not doing more to stop the situation, sorry for not calling the police,” he said.
“I didn’t know Megan, I’m sure she was loved (and) a loved daughter.”
Six others were convicted in the case of Gallagher’s killing and were previously sentenced for charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter and offering an indignity to human remains.
Gallagher family’s fight for justice continues
Outside of the courthouse on Wednesday, Gallagher’s aunt, Mary MacColl, said she believes her niece was re-victimized throughout the last five years. She added that the family was silenced, denied answers and left to navigate a complex legal system.
“Megan’s voice was lost during the trial, the system never recognized it at all,” she said, calling for accountability and legal reform within the justice system.
“We will not allow Megan’s voice or voices of any (missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls) to be silenced,” MacColl told reporters.
Ingrid MacColl, Gallagher’s mother, echoed that statement.
“To all women and Indigenous women and men, you will not find justice in the legal system,” she said. “Do what you can to protect yourselves, speak out and help us reform the system.”
Brian said it was impactful to hear the judge acknowledge the words voiced in his victim impact statement.
When asked how he felt about Sutherland’s sentence Brian replied, “it is what it is.”
Brian explained that he felt the reality of Gallagher’s final hours were far more severe than any of the sentences handed down reflect.
“They brutally held her for at least 24 hours and they beat her until she was dead … that’s the truth,” he said.
Gallagher’s sister, Lindsey Bishop, told reporters she wants her sister to be remembered as a beautiful spirit, both inside and out.
“The overall story of Megan is that she wanted the best for everybody and those around her,” Bishop said. “She loved everybody as if they were family.”
Crown, defense speak on case outside of court
Crown prosecutor, Jennifer Schmidt, said it has been an incredibly difficult journey for Gallagher’s family.
She acknowledged the family has advocated for changes within the justice system since the start of Gallagher’s case, and said it’s time to take another look at the process to make some changes.
Schmidt said the sentence given to Sutherland was within the range sought by the Crown and highlighted important facts within the case.
“What happened to Megan Gallagher was one of the most terrifying things I think a person could encounter,” Schmidt said.
“The gang problem in this community and in this province is huge.”
Defense lawyer, Alora Arnold, said she thought the sentence for Sutherland was reasonable.
“Whatever sentence (was) imposed today will not bring back Megan Gallagher, it won’t fill the void in the family’s life.”
Arnold said Sutherland is taking time to process the sentence he was given and will make a decision on filing an appeal in the coming weeks.
Sutherland has 30 days to appeal the decision.
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