PRINCE ALBERT – RCMP have charged six inmates in the death of Rocky Meechance at Saskatchewan Penitentiary on Jan. 29.
Those charged with second-degree murder include 28-year-old George Custer, 25-year-old Tyrel Munroe, 26-year-old Dominick Cochrane, 26-year-old Jonathan Soosay, 26-year-old Wyatt Crookedneck, and 26-year-old Rene Merasty.
RCMP say that a second person was injured at the prison when Meechance was murdered.
Thirty-four-year-old Conrad Merasty, 23-year-old Ilyas Gilao, and 23-year-old DJ Montgrand have each been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Meechance, from Red Pheasant First Nation, had been sentenced on Aug. 15, 2022, in North Battleford Provincial Court. He had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, break and enter, flight from police, and break and enter to the incidents in Arelee and area, court heard.
Wanted to leave gang lifestyle
Court heard previously that Meechance recognized that his gang affiliation and drinking resulted in his criminal behaviour and he was taking steps to leave that lifestyle.
Meechance got sober when he was previously in prison but started drinking again after he was released to deal with the pain of his father’s death. His father had died while he was in prison and he wasn’t able to attend his funeral and say goodbye, court heard.
Meechance planned to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and reach out to STR8UP, a Saskatoon-based non-profit that helps gang members leave the lifestyle.
