The 39-year-old man charged in the 20-year-old murder case of Renee Sweeney made a brief appearance in a Sudbury court Thursday.

Robert Steven Wright was charged with first-degree murder in mid-December in connection with stabbing death of Sweeney in January 1998. 

His court appearance was made via video link from the Sudbury jail, where he has been since his arrest on December 11th.

For now, he will remain in custody.

Wright’s defence team is requesting a bail hearing to be scheduled over three days, February 19th to 21st, before a Superior Court judge.

Those dates will be confirmed later this month.