Saskatoon water main break forces courthouse to close, delays manslaughter sentencing

WATCH: A first-degree murder trial in Saskatoon came to an unexpected end Thursday, as the defendants pleaded guilty to a lesser offence of manslaughter.

Saskatoon’s Court of King’s was closed on Wednesday as a result of a water main break, that impacted water supply to the courthouse.

A sentencing hearing for two women who plead guilty to manslaughter was expected to get underway, but was quickly cancelled by the judge.

“The courthouse was closed on Monday, and it will be closed today,” Justice Mona Dovell told the packed courtroom.

Summer-Sky Henry and Cheyann Peeteetuce were charged with first-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Megan Gallagher. She was reported missing in September 2020. Two years later, police found Gallagher’s remains near St. Louis, Sask.

Last week, in a surprising move, Henry and Peeteetuce pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.

The Gallagher family was expecting to read victim impact statements on Wednesday.

“The reality is, this is the only time that we get to speak in court,” Brian Gallagher, the victim’s father, told reporters — speaking over the sounds of construction in front of the courthouse.

“It takes a lot of courage to stand up there and express those words.”

Victim impact statements provide the judge with insight into the harm caused by the offence.

“To prepare these statements, especially on a case like this one, that’s four-and-a-half years, you go through a whole range of emotions,” Brian Gallagher said.

“Mother nature is having her way, and we just have to roll with the punches.”

The matter has been rescheduled to Feb. 6 for sentencing submissions.

After the family left the courthouse, a sign was put on the front door, “Courthouse closed until further notice due to water main break.”

While the judge said the reason for the water main break was result of Sunday’s fire on the University Bridge, the city said that’s not the case.

“They are not connected. They are separate and different infrastructure,” a spokesperson for the city of Saskatoon told CTV News in an email.

The city said the issue near the courthouse is “related to a sanitary sewer line that carries waste water,” and expects water supply to be restored shortly.