‘You took my baby sister’: Megan Gallagher’s family delivers final statements after seven convictions

Megan Gallagher’s family shared victim impact statements after seven people were convicted of her death. Stacey Hein reports.

The family of a Saskatoon woman killed nearly six years ago delivered final victim impact statements Monday after seven people were convicted in her death, as lawyers argued sentencing for the last offender.

Roderick Sutherland, the final person convicted in Megan Gallagher’s death, was found guilty last October of manslaughter and offering indignity to human remains. Nine people were originally charged in the case, but charges against two were later stayed.

The court heard Gallagher was killed in September 2020 inside Sutherland’s garage, where she was restrained to a chair, beaten and died after plastic wrap was placed over her face.

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Her remains were found two years later south of Prince Albert, near the village of St. Louis.

At Sutherland’s sentencing hearing Monday, Crown prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt sought eight to 10 years for manslaughter and two to five years for offering indignity to human remains. Schmidt argued he played an “instrumental role” in Gallagher’s death by permitting the use of his garage and that he was involved from start to finish.

She also argued Sutherland should not receive credit for time spent on an ankle monitor. She said the conditions, which included keeping the peace, attending court, a 24-hour curfew and not consuming alcohol or cannabis, were not onerous.

Defence lawyer Alora Arnold is seeking a sentence of three and a half years for manslaughter and one and a half years for the second charge, arguing Sutherland did not know what others were planning and is a low-risk offender.

She also argued Sutherland’s release conditions are strict.

Justice John Morrall reserved his decision until next Wednesday.

Victim impact statements

Megan Gallagher’s father, Brian Gallagher, said when writing his statement he was “extremely overwhelmed” with what thoughts he was going to leave the justice system.

Brian Gallagher also noted his statement was due April 9, Megan Gallagher’s birthday. She would have been 36 years old.

He said he took early retirement to attend court proceedings and advocate for his daughter, adding that after hearing the details of her death, he thinks about it every day.

Megan Gallagher’s sister Lindsey Bishop spoke about the pain of people staying silent while the family searched for answers.

“You took my baby sister, my best friend,” Bishop said in her statement directed to Sutherland.

Many of the 12 victim impact statements described Megan Gallagher as strong, loving, caring and confident, while also highlighting the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

“She’s two or three times more vulnerable,” said Kathie Pruden, who was outside the courthouse supporting Megan Gallagher. “All of us as Indigenous women, we wonder often, is it going to be my sister, my granddaughter, and so I think that message was made clear today,” she added.

Deb Gallagher, Megan Gallagher’s stepmother, said the family is exploring setting up a foundation in her honour to amplify victims’ voices and fight for their rights.

Sutherland apologizes

At the end of the hearing, Sutherland stood up and addressed Gallagher’s family.

“Sorry for your loss,” he said. “Sorry for not doing more to stop the situation. Sorry for not calling police.”