A trial is underway for two women accused of the murder of a Metis woman in Saskatoon.
Megan Gallagher was killed in the city in September 2020. Her body would be found in the South Saskatchewan River near St. Louis two years later.
Several people have been charged in relation to her killing. Last month, Robert James Thomas was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 18 years after he plead guilty to second-degree murder.
On Monday morning, the trial for Summer Sky-Henry and Cheyenne Crystal Peeteetuce, both accused of first-degree murder, began at the Court of King’s Bench in Saskatoon.
The trial is scheduled for six weeks. The two accused will be tried by judge alone. Justice R.W. Danyliuk will be presiding.
Judge gives “unusual” opening statement about his “concerns” for delays in the case.
The trial is subject to a publication ban as others accused in relation to Gallagher’s death are still awaiting trial. This means that evidence presented at this month’s trial can not be published.
However, Justice Danyliuk addressed the court before the trial commenced speaking on concerns he had with some delays already taking place in the case. Danyliuk specifically pointed to a Friday afternoon application filing for this trial scheduled to start on Monday. A trial, which the judge noted, had been scheduled for the past year.
The Saskatchewan Judge then pointed to the Taylor Kennedy trial, a high profile impaired driving trial that was thrown out last month because it took too long. He said he would do everything in his power to make sure that doesn’t happen here.
“Justice will be done,” he said.
At one point, the judge even asked all lawyers to turn around and face the public saying this is who you serve.
Danyliuk called his statement “unusual”, but called on all lawyers present to be “timely” and “efficient” so the trial remains fair for all concerned.
The trial is scheduled for 39 days in court.
In the meantime, the other accused have upcoming trial dates.
Thomas Sutherland, accused of manslaughter, will be on trial at the end of April, while Roderick Sutherland, accused of first-degree murder, will have his trial in October.