A Saskatoon jury has found Roderick Sutherland guilty of manslaughter, unlawful confinement, and offering an indignity to human remains in connection with the 2020 death of Megan Gallagher, bringing a major chapter in the years-long case to a close.

The verdict was delivered Friday afternoon at the Court of King’s Bench after two days of jury deliberations. As the words “guilty” were read aloud, sobs filled the courtroom. Family and friends of Gallagher embraced, many overcome with emotion after five years of relentless pursuit for justice.

Emotional reaction in court

Gallagher’s father, Brian Gallagher, said the verdict brought a mix of relief and grief. “When the jury started to say ‘guilty, guilty, guilty,’ it felt like something was released from my chest,” he told reporters. “The grandparents have heard us, the Creator has heard us. They are happy and smiling and, at least, at ease.”

But he added that no court outcome could ever bring true closure. “The only closure we could ever get is if Megan could walk through that door and give us a hug. That’s never going to happen. That’s been taken from us.”

Brian described Megan as a generous, humorous, and deeply compassionate person. “She would give up anything to help someone else,” he said.

A five-year journey for justice

Megan Gallagher, then 30 years old, vanished under suspicious circumstances in September 2020. Within months, investigators believed she had been killed. It wasn’t until two years later that her remains were discovered on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, near the village of St. Louis, roughly 105 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

The discovery marked a crucial moment in an extensive and emotionally charged investigation that ultimately implicated nine people.

A web of charges and guilty pleas

Roderick Sutherland’s case was the final one to go to trial. The proceedings began on October 6, and throughout the hearings the jury heard graphic testimony about how Gallagher was tied to a chair, assaulted, and killed inside a Saskatoon garage.

Several others have already been sentenced in the case:

• Robert (Bobby) Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in October 2024 and received life in prison with no parole for 18 years.

• Cheyann Peeteetuce and Summer-Sky Henry, initially charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January 2025 and received seven-year sentences.

• Ernest Vernon Whitehead, Jessica Badger (Sutherland), and John Wayne Sanderson pleaded guilty to offering indignity to human remains.

• Charges against Robin John (unlawful confinement and aggravated assault) and Thomas Sutherland (manslaughter) were stayed before trial.

The defence and the Crown’s arguments

During closing arguments, Sutherland’s defence lawyer, Blaine Beaven, said his client found himself in a volatile situation that escalated beyond his control. Beaven argued that Sutherland tried to stop others once he realized what was happening.

The Crown, however, maintained that even if Sutherland didn’t personally kill Gallagher, it was his garage where she was confined and ultimately killed. Prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt said he was “involved from start to finish” and played an active role throughout the events.

Outside court, Beaven expressed disappointment with the outcome but acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment for both sides. “This is obviously a very difficult day for our client, but we appreciate it’s also a very difficult day for Megan Gallagher’s family,” he said. “It’s another step on their path to healing.”

Sutherland taken into custody

Following the verdict, the Crown asked the court to revoke Sutherland’s bail, calling the offence “one that has shocked the community at the highest level.”

“He was involved in the confinement of a young Indigenous woman who was tortured and suffocated to death,” Schmidt told the court.

The defence argued that Sutherland had complied with all bail conditions over the past two years and was not a flight risk. However, Justice John Morrall ordered Sutherland to be taken into custody immediately.

Sentencing set for December 19

Sentencing is scheduled for December 19. The defence is expected to seek a provincial jail sentence—with a maximum of two years less a day—while the Crown is preparing to seek a double-digit prison term, reflecting the gravity of the offences.

Family’s ongoing grief

For the Gallagher family, the verdict represents progress, but not peace. Megan’s father called it “one step in a long, painful journey.”

“Five years and 27 days since she went missing,” he said quietly outside the courthouse. “It’s been a journey I don’t know how to describe.”

Judge Calls N.S. Wildfire ‘Drunken Tire Fire’ as Man Fined $25K

The man responsible for the largest wildfire in Nova Scotia’s history has been fined $25,000, a penalty the judge admitted could never undo the devastation it caused.

Dalton Stewart, 23, was sentenced Thursday in Barrington provincial court after pleading guilty to one charge under the Forest Act. He must also complete wildfire prevention training, as part of a joint recommendation by the Crown and defence.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Stewart and friends were drinking near Barrington Lake on May 25, 2023, when he set a tire on fire on private land. Before leaving, he tried to stomp it out but later admitted he was “very intoxicated” and failed to ensure it was fully extinguished.

The resulting blaze — later known as the Barrington Lake wildfire — burned more than 23,000 hectares, destroyed 60 structures, and displaced thousands of residents. Officials estimated firefighting costs at $8 million.

Senior Crown attorney Brian Cox said the fine reflected accountability, though no penalty could match the destruction.

“Mr. Stewart has conceded that he started the fire that ultimately caused the Barrington Lake wildfire,” Cox told court. “The $25,000 fine is a meaningful deterrent.”

Judge Paul Scovil called it beyond comprehension that anyone would start a fire in such dry conditions, describing the act as a “drunken tire fire.”

Victim Melissa Nickerson, who lost her home in Thomasville, broke down in court while describing the trauma her family continues to endure.

“We had to start over from nothing,” she said. “I’m angry and grief-stricken by the loss of my home and memories.”

Local officials said the sentence reopens painful wounds. In a joint statement, Barrington Warden Shaun Hatfield and Shelburne Warden Penny Smith said their communities remain focused on “recovery, healing, and resilience.”

Fire Chief Darrell Locke of Shelburne’s volunteer department voiced disappointment, arguing a harsher punishment might deter future negligence.

“A $25,000 fine doesn’t influence people. Maybe time in a cell would,” he said.

Stewart’s lawyer, Philip Star, said his client earns modest wages at a fish plant and will need up to two years to pay the fine. He added Stewart accepts responsibility and noted RCMP investigators found no grounds for arson charges.

Family of Highway 401 Crash Victims Sues Durham Police for $25M

The survivors of a devastating wrong-way crash on Highway 401 that killed three family members have filed a $25-million lawsuit against Durham police, the officers involved, and the estate of the suspect who died in the collision.

Gokulnath Manivannan and his wife Ashwitha Jawahar were the only survivors of the April 2024 crash that claimed the lives of Manivannan’s parents and the couple’s three-month-old son. The family’s statement of claim accuses Durham Regional Police, two officers, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the suspect’s estate of negligence that led to the fatal outcome.

According to Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the pursuit began after a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville and ended in a fiery, multi-vehicle collision in Whitby, about 50 kilometres east of Toronto. The suspect, who was driving the wrong way on the 401, was also killed in the crash.

Two Durham police officers — Sgt. Richard Flynn and Const. Brandon Hamilton — now face criminal charges in connection with the incident. The lawsuit claims the officers acted “recklessly” by continuing a high-speed pursuit in the wrong direction and failing to consider safer alternatives.

The family alleges Durham police failed to train officers adequately on pursuit policies and neglected to call off the chase, violating public safety standards. No statements of defence have been filed yet, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.

Durham Regional Police confirmed awareness of the lawsuit but declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation and legal process.

The family’s lawyers, Brad Moscato and Adam Wagman of Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP, said they are working to ensure a full investigation:

“The family hopes this tragedy prompts a careful review of police pursuit protocols and reinforces that public safety must remain the top priority.”

The statement of claim adds that the survivors continue to suffer severe physical and psychological trauma, permanent injuries, and financial hardship from the loss of their loved ones.