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Robert Steven Wright found guilty of murder

Wright has been incarcerated since his arrest in 2018, when he was charged with the stabbing death of Renée Sweeney 
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Robert Steven Wright has been found guilty of the second-degree murder of Renée Sweeney. 

Wright has been incarcerated since his arrest in 2018, when he was charged with the stabbing death of Renée Sweeney. 

Sweeney was at work at a video store in a plaza at 1500 Paris St. when, on the morning of Jan. 27, 1998, she was killed. At the time, Wright was an 18-year-old student at Lockerby Composite School, which was within walking distance of the store where Sweeney worked.

His trial began with jury selection on Feb. 21 and after a little over a month of evidence and testimony, the jury began their deliberations shortly before 1 p.m. on March 28.

The Crown rested its case on March 10, after calling to the stand Sweeney’s manager, eye witnesses to the aftermath of the killing, police officers who investigated the crime and forensic scientists who could offer context to DNA evidence found.

The defence called Wright himself, who admitted that he had found Sweeney injured, but said he did not kill her. Believing she was already dead, Wright testified he fled the scene. The defence rested on March 23.

More to come.



Jenny Lamothe

About the Author: Jenny Lamothe

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com. She covers the diverse communities of Sudbury, especially the vulnerable or marginalized.
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