Friend grieves for man reported murdered in Saskatoon

A long-time friend is still trying to come to terms with the loss of a 45-year-old man allegedly murdered last week.

Rodney Wailing died on Jan. 11 after being rushed to hospital from a home on Avenue I South.

Melina Torrence said she knew Wailing for more than 20 years.

“It feels so wrong that he’s not here. But death is a part of life. It’s just unfortunate when (someone) gets murdered,” she said through tears.

Torrence said she’ll always remember Wailing fondly.

“He was a good man overall, a good hard worker. He was good as a friend – he trusts all the wrong people,” she said.

Torrence has gathered information about what happened from others who were in the home when Wailing died.

She said she’s drawn some comfort from hearing Wailing died as he tried to rush in and save a friend from a beating.

“So, in a way, I guess you could say that Rod died a hero,” she said.

Daniel Forest, 27, has been charged with murder in Wailing’s death. A police release said Forest was charged with second-degree murder, however, court documents didn’t specify the count.

Police reported Forest turned himself in over the weekend. He made his first court appearance Monday. He’s due back in Saskatoon Provincial Court later this month.