BATTLEFORD – A man charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Ryan Gatzke in 2019 is headed to trial in 2023.
Isaac Melko, 24, elected to be tried by judge alone in Battleford Court of Queen’s Bench. On March 18 the trial was set for Februrary 2023. Melko, who is from North Battleford, is charged with second-degree murder. Provincial court documents show that he is also charged with carrying a rifle for the purpose of committing an indictable offence, possession of a rifle without a license, having his face masked with intent to commit an indictable offence, being an occupant of a Pontiac G5 knowing there was a shotgun, rifle and handgun, and break and enter of a house in Battleford with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Jacob Ballantyne, 26, from Edam, Charles Michael Lewis McLean, 24, from North Battleford, and a young offender, who can’t be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act were also charged.
Ballantyne has a pre-trial conference on May 20. A trial date hasn’t been set.
In February, McLean was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. There is a ban on publication of the details of his sentencing hearing until all of his co-accused have gone through the court system.
The young offender’s charges are still at the provincial court level.
Police found a badly injured Gatzke in a house in Battleford in October 2019. He was taken to the North Battleford hospital where he was declared deceased.
The charges against Ballantyne, Melko, and the young offender haven’t been proven in court.
