'Ridiculous': Saskatoon woman's family frustrated after man accused of killing her appears in court by phone
Robert James Thomas, charged with first-degree murder in the death of Megan Gallagher, made his first appearance in Saskatoon provincial court by phone Monday morning — and that's not sitting well with her family.
Gallagher was reported missing in September of 2020, and police began treating her case as a homicide in January 2021.
Thomas’ appearance was via telephone from Saskatoon Correctional Centre, which Megan's father Brian Gallagher called “absolutely ridiculous” and “damaging” to family and friends.
“The person accused of first degree murder for Megan Gallagher did not have to appear,” he said.
“He chose to not have the charges read out and it was, just for me at that moment and I don't want to speak for everybody else, but it broke me. It's been two years plus since Megan's disappeared, and that kind of treatment towards the families of the victims is unacceptable.”
Thomas will be held in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 6.
There is a no-contact order between Thomas and the four other accused in Gallagher’s disappearance; John Wayne Sanderson, Ernest Whitehead, Roderick William Sutherland and Jessica Sutherland — each charged with offering an indignity to human remains.
After the proceedings in court, the judge took a moment to address Gallagher’s family and friends in attendance, saying she understands the process has been upsetting and challenging and that she appreciates the grace which the family has shown.
Gallagher says he appreciates those words but adds it’s disrespectful that the appearance was made by phone.
“There's something very cold about a telephone call or a video appearance,” he said.
“There's something that's much more human about somebody being in person and seeing their eyes and them having to see us and face us as well.”
“You want (him) to see the devastation he's caused,” said Debbie, Megan's stepmother.
“We know he's in Saskatoon. We know others are in Saskatoon, and they never have to face us. It's just wrong.”
SECOND MURDER CHARGE
On Monday afternoon, Saskatoon police announced they had arrested 29-year-old Cheyann Crystal Peeteetuce in connection with Gallagher's presumed death.
Like Thomas, Peeteetuce also faces a first-degree murder charge.
Police say Peeteetuce was already at a correctional facility in Prince Albert when she was arrested and was transported to Saskatoon.
She's expected to make her first appearance in provincial court Tuesday morning.
Peeteetuce is the sixth person arrested in connection to Gallagher’s death.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.