(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW staff

Homicide investigation

Trial dates set for Ballantyne, Melko in Gatzke case

May 31, 2022 | 12:02 PM

Two of the accused facing charges related to the death of Ryan John Gatzke in Battleford in 2019 will be heading to trial next year.

Jacob Joseph Ballantyne of Edam, Sask. 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. He will stand trial at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Battleford on June 12, 2023.

Isaac Melko 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. Melko is scheduled for trial Feb. 6, 2023.

A publication ban is in effect in the case until all the accused have gone through the court process.

Charles Michael Lewis McLean was sentenced to four years in custody after pleading guilty to manslaughter on Feb. 25. Two other charges, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, were stayed.

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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.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW