Final person convicted in Megan Gallagher killing to spend about five years behind bars

Megan Gallagher's loved ones after Sutherland's sentence was handed down. (Stacey Hein / CTV News)

The final person convicted in the killing of Megan Gallagher has been sentenced.

Roderick Sutherland, the seventh person convicted in Gallagher’s death, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. With credit for time spent under release conditions, he will spend about five years behind bars.

Justice John Morrall delivered the decision Wednesday in Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench, imposing five years for manslaughter and two and a half years for offering an indignity to human remains.

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A jury also found Sutherland guilty of unlawful confinement at trial last October. Morrall stayed that count because it formed the basis of the manslaughter charge, meaning sentencing on both would effectively punish him twice for the same offence.

Court heard Gallagher was killed in September 2020 inside Sutherland’s garage, where she was restrained, assaulted and died after plastic wrap was placed over her face.

Her remains were found two years later south of Prince Albert, near the village of St. Louis.

Nine people were originally charged in the case, but charges against two were later stayed.

Robert ‘Bobby’ Thomas, initially charged with first-degree murder, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Summer-Sky Henry and Cheyann Peeteetuce, who also faced first-degree murder charges, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Jessica Badger, John Wayne Sanderson and Ernest Whitehead pleaded guilty to offering an indignity to human remains.

Charges of unlawful confinement and aggravated assault against Robin Tyler John and Thomas Sutherland were stayed.