SUDBURY -- Almost two years after being arrested, the man accused of killing a Sudbury woman in 1998 has a confirmed trial date.
Robert Steven Wright is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Renee Sweeney on Jan. 27, 1998.
Wright was arrested at North Bay Regional Health Centre December 2018, where he worked as a lab technician. He has been in jail since his arrest.
Last month, his change of venue application was denied after defence lawyers were unable to convince Justice Gregory Ellis that Wright would not be able to receive a fair trial in the community where the crime happened.
Pre-trial motions will be heard the weeks of April 6 and 19, 2021.
On Tuesday, the trial start date was confirmed for May 25, 2021, and is scheduled to go on for five weeks.
"I am so pleased that we are finally moving forward with this. It has been a very lengthy process that has had a few hiccups such as COVID along the way. With a trial date set, we are one step closer to bringing justice for Renee," said Kim Sweeney, the victim's sister, in a statement to CTV News.
