Three men charged with killing Ryan Gatzke in Battleford in 2019 remain in jail.
Isaac Melko, 22, Charles Michael Lewis MacLean, 23, both of North Battleford, and Jacob Joseph Ballantyne, 25, of Edam, had appearances in North Battleford Provincial Court Aug. 27 via CCTV.
The three – and one young offender – were arrested in May 2020 after an eight month investigation by Major Crimes Unit North.
According to North Battleford RCMP, a badly injured Gatzke, 27, was found in his home in the 100 block of 26 Street West in Battleford on Oct. 18, 2019. EMS took Gatzke to the hospital in North Battelford where he was later declared deceased.
Melko, Ballantyne, and a young offender - whose name can’t be released in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act – were 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 license, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle.
Maclean was charged with manslaughter, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence.
The co-accused are now scheduled to appear in North Battleford Provincial Court via CCTV on Oct. 14 to speak to the matters.
