(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

RCMP investigation

Preliminary hearing coming up for one of suspects in Gatzke homicide case

Oct 18, 2021 | 1:55 PM

The case for one of the suspects related to the death of Ryan John Gatzke in Battleford in 2019 is set for a preliminary inquiry next month.

Jacob Joseph Ballantyne, 25, of Edam, is charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, disguise with intent, carry a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, pointing a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and possession of a restricted firearm while prohibited.

Ballantyne’s case was originally scheduled for a preliminary hearing to start Oct. 18. The hearing has now instead been set for Nov. 1 to 4, 2021 in North Battleford court.

Among the other accused, Isaac Melko, 22, of North Battleford, is charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, disguise with intent, carry a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of a firearm without a licence, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle. His preliminary hearing which started in September was adjourned on Oct. 6. The hearing will continue on Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m in courtroom #2 at North Battleford court.

Charles Michael Lewis McLean, 23, of North Battleford is charged with manslaughter, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence. He is next scheduled for a private pre-trial conference at Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford on Nov. 19.

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An 18-year-old male North Battleford resident was 17 years old at the time of incident and cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. He is charged with second-degree murder, break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, disguise with intent, carry a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of a firearm without a licence, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and possession of a restricted firearm while prohibited.

Gatzke, 27, was found with serious injuries in a Battleford home on Oct. 18, 2019, and later declared deceased after being taken to hospital.

The allegations against the accused individuals have not been proven in court.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow