SASKATOON – One of the suspects facing charges in the death of Megan Gallagher has seen his charges stayed at the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon.
Thomas Richard Sutherland, now 45, who was facing charges of manslaughter and unlawful confinement, originally had a trial date scheduled to start April 28.
The Saskatoon Court of King's Bench confirmed the Crown has stayed proceedings for the charges.
In an email to SaskToday, the Public Prosecutions office said: "To move forward with a prosecution, Public Prosecutions must be satisfied that there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction and that it is in the public interest to continue with a prosecution.
"Prosecutors must review cases on an ongoing basis to make sure the case continues to meet the prosecution standard," the office added. "In this case, after careful consideration, it was determined the case no longer met the prosecution standard. Given that assessment, the prosecutor directed a stay of proceedings on the Criminal Code charges."
Now, there is only one case left slated for trial.
Roderick William Sutherland, 47, is scheduled for a jury trial to start Oct. 6, 2025. Roderick Sutherland is facing charges of first-degree murder in the case.
A publication ban is in effect until all the accused have gone through the court process.
Six people have already been sentenced in the case, and one other accused, Robin Tyler John, saw his charges stayed.
Gallagher went missing in Saskatoon in September of 2020, and four months later, the Saskatoon Police Service said they were treating her disappearance as a homicide.
On Sept. 29, 2022, Saskatoon Police Service found human remains along the South Saskatchewan River near St. Louis. The discovery was made within hours on the first day of their scheduled four-day search. They were identified as Megan Gallagher.
– With files from Lisa Joy