On Thursday, five suspects in Megan Gallagher’s disappearance made their court appearances in Saskatoon.
Human bones were discovered at a Megan Gallagher search location on September 29, more than two years after she vanished in September 2020.
Eight persons have already been detained and charged in connection with the case, and police are still looking for Summer-Sky Henry, whom they assume to be the final and ninth suspect.
Robert “Bobby” James Thomas, Cheyann Peeteetuce, and Roderick Sutherland have all been charged with first-degree murder.
Along with Ernest Whitehead, Jessica Sutherland Badger, John Wayne Sanderson, and Sutherland, Sutherland is accused of inflicting cruel treatment on human remains.
Thomas Sutherland and Robin Tyler John, two other people, are accused with aggravated assault and unlawful imprisonment.
Saskatoon police say a warrant has been requested for first-degree murder, and Henry is presently wanted.
The court hearings of many of the suspects were postponed.
After the adjournments, Megan’s father, Brian Gallagher, addressed the media outside of provincial court.
“We’re beginning to understand that it’s just a natural part of the process; we have no control over it. It falls under the principle of innocence until proven guilty, which Gallagher said is a crucial aspect of our legal system.
Aly Bear, third vice chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, was present on Thursday. She claimed that despite people leaving the criminal justice system having ties to gangs and narcotics, there is no process in place to help them rehabilitate, which is why these kinds of tragedies continue to occur.
According to Bear, “The government needs to actually stand up, take responsibility for the actions, and be supporting restoration of our conventional government institutions, our restorative justice systems, funding healing like mental health resources, treatment centres, and so forth.”
Bear opined that First Nations people must be in charge of these activities.
Future court dates are dispersed over the remainder of October and November.
One suspect remains at large while five defendants in the death of Megan Gallagher appear in court in Saskatoon.
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