Sweeney Murder File

The brutal stabbing death of 23-year-old Renee Sweeney rocked the City of Sudbury to its core on Jan. 27, 1998.

Police searched for her killer for two decades and finally charged Robert Steven Wright, who was 18 years old at the time of the murder, in Dec. 2018.

After several delays, the trial began Feb. 21, 2023, just after the 25th anniversary of Sweeney's death. The jury delivered a guilty verdict after five weeks of testimony.

CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca has compiled all of the case coverage below, including archival news footage, the arrest, trial, verdict and now that the publication ban is lifted, we can reveal some exclusive extras.

Articles on the Sweeney murder case

Legal expert weighs in on Sudbury murder trial verdict, next steps

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Fingerprint 'mistake' led to charge of first suspect in Sweeney murder

Under cross-examination by Crown prosecutor Rob Parsons, fingerprint expert Jeff Myatt said he was asked to examine two fingerprint impressions from the crime scene: a bloody print found on top of the cash tray at the crime scene, and a latent print found under the cash tray. (Supplied)

Jury selection goes smoothly, Sweeney murder trial to begin Thursday morning in Sudbury

Renee Sweeney was a 23-year-old student at Laurentian University who worked as a part-time clerk at Adults Only Video. She was stabbed to death while working at the store sometime between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, 1998. (File)

Historic Sudbury murder trial scheduled to begin next week

The scene outside Adults Only Video on Paris Street in Sudbury the day Renee Sweeney was murdered, Jan. 27, 1998. (Supplied)

Recent Video Reports

Sudbury News

Two charged in northern Ont. for having campfire during fire ban

Ontario Provincial Police says officers were on patrol in the northeastern community of Elliot Lake on Wednesday night when they came upon people having a campfire during a fire ban.

A campfire is seen in this stock image. (Shutterstock)

Sudbury high school students create two Indigenous murals

Some new wall art was unveiled at a Greater Sudbury area high school Thursday to help celebrate National Indigenous History Month.

Indigenous mural made by students at Ecole secondaire Hanmer representing the future. June 1/23 (Alana Everson/CTV Northern Ontario)

Northern communities want a permanent foreign worker immigration program, sources say

As the health care field struggles to fill positions, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program has proven to be a lifeline, according to the Timmins and District Hospital.

'We exist everywhere': West Nipissing to host its first-ever Pride parade in June

Three years after the Municipality of West Nipissing flew the Pride flag for the first time, it and the Pride committee are hosting the first-ever Pride parade later this month.

Animal owners reminded to not leave dogs in the car

Dog owners are being reminded by the humane society and police to not leave their dogs in vehicles as temperatures rise.

Sudbury students enjoy francophone concert

The hot weather didn't dispel the energy at Sudbury's Bell Park on Thursday, as more than 1,000 students of two different school boards gathered for a francophone concert.

Auto giants speak at Sudbury's 2nd annual BEV conference

Honda and General Motors were two of the big keynote speakers on Thursday as the BEV Indepth: Mines to Mobility conference resumed at Cambrian College in Sudbury.

Fire ban declared in northern Ontario

An open-air fire ban declared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in the north due to extreme forest fire hazard went into effect at midnight.

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