A Saskatoon murder trial was closed to the public on Tuesday, with the victim’s family and journalists not allowed in the courtroom.
This is the second day the matter has gone “in-camera” — a term used to describe court proceedings that are held privately.
Summer-Sky Henry and Cheyann Peeteetuce are charged with first-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Megan Gallagher.
Gallagher was reported missing in September 2020. Two years later, police found the woman’s remains near St. Louis, Sask.
The trial began on Jan. 6, when Justice Richard Danyliuk agreed to the Crown’s request to issue a sweeping publication-ban.
The trial, scheduled for 39 days, was set to resume this Thursday and Friday.
The Court of King’s Bench sent a notice to the media that Henry and Peeteetuce would return to court on Monday. The matter was cancelled without reason.
Shortly after — another memo; Henry and Peeteetuce would now appear on Tuesday.
“Somebody tell me why we’re here,” Danyliuk said.
Crown Prosecutor Tyla Olenchuk told the judge that Senior Crown Prosecutor Bill Burge “just arrived” from Regina. She asked for a 15-minute adjournment, and to return in-camera.
“I am loath to keep notifying members of the public that there’s court, only to have them attend, only to figuratively ‘kick them out,’” Danyliuk said, referencing the importance of open court.
“My apologies to all members of the gallery, this is as much surprise to me, as it is to all of you — apparently, we are in an in-camera session.”
Court heard the in-camera discussion would be centred around evidence, known as disclosure.
“We are now in week two of eight ... and we are still talking about disclosure? I can’t do better than the words of Queen Victoria, ‘We are not amused,’” Danyliuk told the lawyers.
Danyliuk asked the lawyers to notify the court registrar next time a proceeding would be in-camera.
