Lawyers warned about delays at start of 1st-degree murder trial for 2020 death of Megan Gallagher

A Saskatoon Court of King's Bench murder trial for two women accused of killing Megan Gallagher led off with the judge warning lawyers to be better prepared for court to prevent unconstitutional delays.

"We are not ending up like the recent Kennedy trial," said Justice Richard Danyliuk in an opening statement Monday morning, referencing a recent high-profile trial that was stayed due to delays.

"We are going to be better.… We are going to get this trial done and get it done properly and on schedule."

Danyliuk's admonishment for counsel began Day 1 of the trial of Summer Sky-Henry and Cheyann Peeteetuce. Both women are charged with the first-degree murder of Gallagher and both pleaded not guilty.

Frustrated by missed submission deadlines and other delays, Danyliuk lectured the lawyers, going over the case's numerous court dates and motion hearings leading up to the trial. At one point, he asked the lawyers to turn around and look at the public gallery.

"These are the people we serve," Danyliuk said, directing attention to private citizens in the courtroom. "The justice system doesn't exist for us, the judges and lawyers. It exists for them."

On Monday, Danyliuk issued a sweeping interim publication ban covering anything done in the scope of the trial until directed otherwise. The ban covers all evidence heard during procedural arguments. Danyliuk allowed media to report his opening statement.

Gallagher, 30, was last seen alive leaving her friend's house on Sept. 19, 2020. She was captured on a surveillance video at a convenience store in Saskatoon the next day.

Two years later, her body was found in the South Saskatchewan River.

Sky-Henry and Peeteetuce are among the nine people eventually charged in connection with Gallagher's death — four with murder.

Robert Thomas was sentenced in December to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.

Roderick Sutherland, also charged with first-degree murder, is scheduled to stand trial in the fall of this year.

During Thomas's sentencing, Justice Daryl Labach issued a publication ban on the proceedings, including details of the case, sentencing arguments and victim impact statements, which he said was to ensure a fair trial for the other accused.

Sky-Henry and Peeteetuce will stand trial simultaneously during the judge-alone trial, which is slated to last 39 days.

The Crown has indicated the pair will be formally arraigned, and then there will be pre-trial applications around disclosure and search warrants.

Evidence and witnesses should be called at the end of the month.

In addition to Sky-Henry, Peeteetuce, Thomas and Roderick Sutherland, five others were charged in connection with Gallagher's death:

• Thomas Sutherland is charged with manslaughter.

• Ernest Vernon Whitehead, 41, was sentenced to 739 days in jail in May 2023 on a charge of indignity to human remains.

• Jessica Badger (Sutherland), 44, was given a conditional sentence order of two years less a day on the same charge, which means she serves it in the community. After that, she will be on probation for 18 months.

• John Wayne Sanderson pleaded guilty in 2023 to the same charge, and was sentenced to 1,096 days, minus 327 days for pre-sentence custody.

• Robin John was charged with unlawful confinement and aggravated assault, but the charge was stayed last fall.