MacLean is also charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, and a firearms offence. Isaac Melko, 22, of North Battleford, and Jacob Joseph Ballantyne, 25, of Edam, and a young offender are also charged. Melko, Ballantyne and the young offender - who can’t be named 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. 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 young offender, who was 17 at the time of Gatzke’s murder in 2019, can’t be named in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The young offender is also charged with 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. Three others were also charged with Gatzke’s murder. Isaac Melko and Jacob Joseph Ballantyne 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.
The show cause hearing lasted two hours in North Battleford Provincial Court April 22. The details of what was said during the hearing can’t be published. Several of Gatzke’s family members attended the hearing, including Gatke’s father from Alberta. Crown Prosecutor Jennifer Schmidt acknowledged to the court how difficult it was for Gatzke’s family to be present today, adding it was the first time they heard the details of how their family member was murdered. The young offender is also charged with 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.
Melko, Ballantyne and the young offender are 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 rearm without a license, and unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle. Maclean was charged with manslaughter, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, and break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence. RCMP found Gatzke in his home in the 100 block of 26 Street West in Battleford on Oct. 18, 2019. He was badly injured and taken to the North Battleford hospital by EMS where he was later declared deceased.