Second man accused in Megan Gallagher investigation appears in court

The small courtroom was filled by more than a dozen family members, close friends and supporters of Megan Gallagher on their second day in a row visiting Saskatoon’s provincial court.

Megan’s father Brian Gallagher and his wife Debby — Megan’s stepmother — sat calmly in the front row as Roderick William Sutherland made his first court appearance Friday.

Sutherland was read the charge — offering an indignity to human remains — which was said to have occurred on Sept. 20, 2020, the same day Gallagher went missing. Sutherland was instructed by the judge to not explain anything to the people in the courtroom.

The Crown elected to proceed by way of indictment with Sutherland’s case, saying it was opposed to his release.

He was ordered to remain in custody until a bail hearing Thursday, and a no-contact order was imposed to prevent Sutherland from being in touch with the other three accused — Ernest Vernon Whitehead, who made his first appearance on Thursday, or John Wayne Sanderson and Jessica Sutherland, who are still wanted by police.

All four are facing the same charge. While police have said they are investigating Gallagher’s disappearance as a homicide, none of the four accused have been charged with murder or manslaughter.

Outside the courthouse, Brian Gallagher said this is a hard time for him.

“You’re just kind of in a holding pattern,” he said, sharing he hasn’t been to work in a few days due to the developments in his daughter’s case.

Reflecting on how he wants his daughter to be remembered, Gallagher recalled Megan’s affinity for kids, calling her the “pied piper” for children. He also spoke of her joyful personality and sense of humour.

“I can’t see her being happy watching us suffer right now. She’s in a terrible state if she sees us crying,” Gallagher said.