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
Recent Video Reports
-
Legal expert on Sudbury murder trial verdict
![With a guilty verdict in the Robert Steven Wright murder trial, sentencing and intent to appeal, a legal expert weighs in.]()
-
Murder victim's family reaction to guilty verdict
![WATCH: Reaction from Renee Sweeney's family outside the Sudbury Courthouse after the jury found Robert Steven Wright guilty of her murder.]()
-
Wright found guilty in Sweeney murder trial
![After 5 weeks of testimony the jury has found Robert Steven Wright guilty of second degree murder in the stabbing death of Renee Sweeney.]()
-
Renee Sweeney murder trial: After the verdict
![Jury found Robert Steven Wright guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Renee Sweeney. Ian Campbell has reactions at the courthouse.]()
-
WATCH: Reaction from Crown to guilty verdict
![Here is what the Crown attorneys had to say outside the Sudbury courthouse after a jury found Robert Steven Wright guilty of Sweeney murder.]()
-
Video of Sweeney murder investigator after verdict
![WATCH: Reaction from lead Sweeney murder investigator Sgt. Robert Weston outside the Sudbury courthouse after the guilty verdict.]()
-
Wright jury enters into Day 2 of deliberations
-
Deliberations underway in Sudbury murder trial
-
Final arguments made in Sudbury murder trial
-
Closing arguments begin in Sudbury murder trial
-
Defence wraps case in Sweeney murder trial
-
Third delay in Sudbury murder trial
-
Sudbury murder trial delayed again due to COVID-19
-
Sweeney murder trial on hold until Monday
-
Eye witness testifies for the defence
-
Sudbury murder suspect’s testimony challenged
-
Man accused in Sudbury murder returns to the stand
-
Man accused of 1998 Sudbury murder takes the stand
-
More expert testimony about physical evidence
-
Experts testify about physical evidence
-
Investigators lay out DNA evidence in Wright trial
Sudbury News
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.
Algoma University relaunches summer music program
Algoma University is offering a summer program designed to give aspiring musicians a head start on a career in music.
Northern Ont. communities still lack high-speed internet access, report finds
A new study released Wednesday finds northern Ontario is far behind when it comes to high-speed internet access.
Future of battery electric vehicles the focus at Sudbury conference
The second annual battery electric vehicle (BEV) conference is under way at Cambrian College in Sudbury.
BREAKING
BREAKING | Blind River emergency room temporary closure averted
A planned closure due to doctor shortage in Blind River on Friday has been avoided, the North Shore Health Network says.
Some human scents increase attacks from mosquitos
A wet start to spring followed by hot, dry temperatures means it has been the perfect storm for mosquitos to make a rapid return to our region.
OMA releases progress report on its prescription for primary care
The Ontario Medical Association has released its progress report on primary care and what it's found is progress has been made but there's a lot of work that is still needed to be done.
Two drivers stopped for speeding in northern Ont., one at 154 km/h
A 31-year-old was clocked doing 154 km/h on Highway 11 in North Bay and a commercial driver travelling 125 km/h on Highway 17 in Kenora on Wednesday.
