GUILTY Canada - Renee Sweeney, 23, murdered, Sudbury, Ont, 27 Jan 1998 *arrest in 2018*

[Alison]

Was money taken from the cash? I wonder if he was trying to disguise the murder as a robbery gone wrong.

 

[Gina20]

Was money taken from the cash? I wonder if he was trying to disguise the murder as a robbery gone wrong.

Yes, money, magazines and sex toys were missing after the murder.

 

[Alison]

Yes, money, magazines and sex toys were missing after the murder.

I knew of the magazines but not the rest. Wonder what he did with the stuff after he couldn’t hide it under the coat? Was there a backpack seen?

 

[Alison]

I think his family knew it was him deep down inside.

 

[Gina20]

I knew of the magazines but not the rest. Wonder what he did with the stuff after he couldn’t hide it under the coat? Was there a backpack seen?

From today in court:

Parsons then suggested that Wright needed the jacket because he was "in the midst of committing a robbery."

Parsons said Wright needed the jacket because it concealed the magazines that were missing from the video store.

Wright said no, in response.

Parsons said, "but you have a clear, distinct memory of that not happening?"

"I did not take anything from the store," Wright said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-sweeney-trial-day-thirteen-1.6778425

 

[Gina20]

More from this afternoon:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-sweeney-trial-day-thirteen-1.6778425

 

[JuneBug67]

Sudbury murder suspect finishes testimony, denies involvement in stabbing death

Tuesday afternoon, the Crown accused Robert Steven Wright of stabbing Renee Sweeney to death following a struggle inside the Adults Only Video store in January 1998.

northernontario.ctvnews.ca

It would be interesting to know how the jury weighs the evidence about Renee feeling like she was being followed. There is little reason to think that would have been Wright.

Also, demonstrating how confounding evidence can be sometimes, we have several people describing the jacket as a 'bag'. One witness specifically said it looked like he was stuffing things into a blue bag. Crown quite reasonably alleges that was the magazines and toys. The jury may quite reasonably wonder what happened to them. The only thing that sticks out more than a kid walking around with no jacket and gloves in the winter is a kid walking around with no jacket and gloves in the winter carrying magazines and sex toys.

 

[JuneBug67]

I knew of the magazines but not the rest. Wonder what he did with the stuff after he couldn’t hide it under the coat? Was there a backpack seen?

He testified he had a backpack, but left it at school. School however was between where he emerged from his flight and the wildly circuitous route he took to downtown.

 

[JuneBug67]

Things that may support innocence so far:

-no previous or subsequent violence or criminal record
-his age at the time
-no weapon recovered
-where did the items alleged to be stolen go after he discarded his jacket?
-no explanation for who came in at 11 am when Renee got off the phone - if it wasn't Wright, nobody else came forward. If it was Wright, it seems like a long time to be in the store.
-Renee's sense of being followed
-wrong sized shoe print in the bathroom?
-demeanor on stand? We only know he was emotional.

Things that may support guilt so far:

-all the physical and behavioural evidence looks exactly as it would if he committed murder and fled the scene
-witnesses who saw him with/using a 'bag'
-he never came forward about the jacket or his story in 25 years of sober second thought
-nobody in his family identifed the jacket in the photo that has been repeatedly published in the media over and over since the crime ocurred

Please add to my lists!

 

[musicaljoke]

Things that may support innocence so far:

-no previous or subsequent violence or criminal record
-his age at the time
-no weapon recovered
-where did the items alleged to be stolen go after he discarded his jacket?
-no explanation for who came in at 11 am when Renee got off the phone - if it wasn't Wright, nobody else came forward. If it was Wright, it seems like a long time to be in the store.
-Renee's sense of being followed
-wrong sized shoe print in the bathroom?
-demeanor on stand? We only know he was emotional.

Things that may support guilt so far:

-all the physical and behavioural evidence looks exactly as it would if he committed murder and fled the scene
-witnesses who saw him with/using a 'bag'
-he never came forward about the jacket or his story in 25 years of sober second thought
-nobody in his family identifed the jacket in the photo that has been repeatedly published in the media over and over since the crime ocurred

Please add to my lists!

Evidence of his DNA under her nails, "a major source" which likely got their through some degree of force.

Missing money in the cash box, and his fingerprints on it.

Was there any evidence found in the bathroom to indicate that he had washed his hands there?

Jury hears about DNA found on Renée Sweeney’s fingernails

Forensic expert testifies at murder trial of Robert Stephen Wright as to how DNA could have been transferred to Sweeney’s body on the day she was killed

www.baytoday.ca

 

[Gina20]

Things that may support innocence so far:

-no previous or subsequent violence or criminal record
-his age at the time
-no weapon recovered
-where did the items alleged to be stolen go after he discarded his jacket?
-no explanation for who came in at 11 am when Renee got off the phone - if it wasn't Wright, nobody else came forward. If it was Wright, it seems like a long time to be in the store.
-Renee's sense of being followed
-wrong sized shoe print in the bathroom?
-demeanor on stand? We only know he was emotional.

Things that may support guilt so far:

-all the physical and behavioural evidence looks exactly as it would if he committed murder and fled the scene
-witnesses who saw him with/using a 'bag'
-he never came forward about the jacket or his story in 25 years of sober second thought
-nobody in his family identifed the jacket in the photo that has been repeatedly published in the media over and over since the crime ocurred

Please add to my lists!

I'll keep it brief.

Teal, being blue-green, is described as blue by some people and green by others. This does not surprise me.

I remember writing exams in high school. Most people went home unless they had another exam in the afternoon. There wasn't anything to do: the cafeteria was closed and hallways were silent. Administrators discouraged loitering. Few were in the hallways. It's hard to imagine waiting around for four hours. The school library closed for book inventory during exams, too.

This brings up another point. Final high school exams are stressful. Some students handle it better than others. Not everyone is resilient. The pressure for good marks for PSE admissions is also high.

Let's say someone bombed an important exam and knew it would have consequences for their career choices. What would happen if a store clerk snapped at them that day for some reason?

Also important, if there is any mental health history relevant here, would that be admissable in court? Would a juvenile record be admissable in court? I don't think so. Would an adult criminal record be admissable? I don't think so.

And finally, reusable nylon shopping bags today look a lot like that jacket material.

 

[JuneBug67]

Evidence of his DNA under her nails, "a major source" which likely got their through some degree of force.

Missing money in the cash box, and his fingerprints on it.

Was their any evidence found in the bathroom to indicate that he had washed his hands there?

Jury hears about DNA found on Renée Sweeney’s fingernails

Forensic expert testifies at murder trial of Robert Stephen Wright as to how DNA could have been transferred to Sweeney’s body on the day she was killed

www.baytoday.ca

There was evidence that somebody used the sink to clean up, but not him specifically.

 

[Gina20]

I'll keep it brief.

Teal, being blue-green, is described as blue by some people and green by others. This does not surprise me.

I remember writing exams in high school. Most people went home unless they had another exam in the afternoon. There wasn't anything to do: the cafeteria was closed and hallways were silent. Administrators discouraged loitering. Few were in the hallways. It's hard to imagine waiting around for four hours. The school library closed for book inventory during exams, too.

This brings up another point. Final high school exams are stressful. Some students handle it better than others. Not everyone is resilient. The pressure for good marks for PSE admissions is also high.

Let's say someone bombed an important exam and knew it would have consequences for their career choices. What would happen if a store clerk snapped at them that day for some reason?

Also important, if there is any mental health history relevant here, would that be admissable in court? Would a juvenile record be admissable in court? I don't think so. Would an adult criminal record be admissable? I don't think so.

And finally, reusable nylon shopping bags today look a lot like that jacket material.

A further "brief" thought. After 25 years, would there be any list of students writing certain exams on a certain day? I don't think so; therefore, there is no proof, just a claim. Also, in high school, students are allowed to leave the exam centre when they wish to do so.They are not required to stay for two hours. Any record of when a student left the exam centre would have been noted, but destroyed a long time ago.

 

[musicaljoke]

There was evidence that somebody used the sink to clean up, but not him specifically.

Oh my! They never swabbed the bathroom for fingerprints. It's hard to believe. Sigh.

Defence raises several questions about how police handled Sweeney murder investigation

The defence for Robert Steven Wright spent much of Tuesday criticizing elements of the Sudbury police investigation into the murder of Renee Sweeney.

northernontario.ctvnews.ca

 

[musicaljoke]

A further "brief" thought. After 25 years, would there be any list of students writing certain exams on a certain day? I don't think so; therefore, there is no proof, just a claim. Also, in high school, students are allowed to leave the exam centre when they wish to do so.They are not required to stay for two hours. Any record of when a student left the exam centre would have been noted, but destroyed a long time ago.

There might not be a list available, but some students could possibly remember who was in their class. Some may even still have their exams in their possession, which would have the date on them. It may be possible to recall who was present, and maybe even who walked out early. It's much more difficult to recall if someone was absent.

 

[Gina20]

There might not be a list available, but some students could possibly remember who was in their class. Some may even still have their exams in their possession, which would have the date on them. It may be possible to recall who was present, and maybe even who walked out early. It's much more difficult to recall if someone was absent.

No one ever stepped forward from the school, as far as we know: no teachers, no students, no support staff.

Another addition to my "brief" list of things to consider: why was SW not released on bail, despite four attempts? The Crown mentioned concerns about public safety. That information is under a publication ban.

Accused killers appear in Sudbury court

thesudburystar.com

 

[musicaljoke]

Things that may support innocence so far:

-no previous or subsequent violence or criminal record
-his age at the time
-no weapon recovered
-where did the items alleged to be stolen go after he discarded his jacket?
-no explanation for who came in at 11 am when Renee got off the phone - if it wasn't Wright, nobody else came forward. If it was Wright, it seems like a long time to be in the store.
-Renee's sense of being followed
-wrong sized shoe print in the bathroom?
-demeanor on stand? We only know he was emotional.

Things that may support guilt so far:

-all the physical and behavioural evidence looks exactly as it would if he committed murder and fled the scene
-witnesses who saw him with/using a 'bag'
-he never came forward about the jacket or his story in 25 years of sober second thought
-nobody in his family identifed the jacket in the photo that has been repeatedly published in the media over and over since the crime ocurred

Please add to my lists!

The killer left a trail of blood in the snow which was tracked by the dog. I'm assuming the dog was trailing the blood, and not necessarily the killer. Could that be right? That trail let to the teal coat. It doesn't sound like there were any other trails that the dog followed.

Police seek suspect?s DNA

Greater Sudbury Police are looking at an accused killer of a Cape Breton woman 10 years ago as a possible suspect in the death of a Sudbury university student in 1998. Renee Sweeney was stabbed while working alone at a Paris Street video store Jan.

www.sudbury.com

 

[musicaljoke]

Things that may support innocence so far:

-no previous or subsequent violence or criminal record
-his age at the time
-no weapon recovered
-where did the items alleged to be stolen go after he discarded his jacket?
-no explanation for who came in at 11 am when Renee got off the phone - if it wasn't Wright, nobody else came forward. If it was Wright, it seems like a long time to be in the store.
-Renee's sense of being followed
-wrong sized shoe print in the bathroom?
-demeanor on stand? We only know he was emotional.

Things that may support guilt so far:

-all the physical and behavioural evidence looks exactly as it would if he committed murder and fled the scene
-witnesses who saw him with/using a 'bag'
-he never came forward about the jacket or his story in 25 years of sober second thought
-nobody in his family identifed the jacket in the photo that has been repeatedly published in the media over and over since the crime ocurred

Please add to my lists!

The killer left a trail of blood in the snow which was tracked by the dog. I'm assuming the dog was trailing the blood, and not necessarily the killer. Could that be right? That trail led to the teal coat.

Police seek suspect?s DNA

Greater Sudbury Police are looking at an accused killer of a Cape Breton woman 10 years ago as a possible suspect in the death of a Sudbury university student in 1998. Renee Sweeney was stabbed while working alone at a Paris Street video store Jan.

www.sudbury.com

 

[Gina20]

Three times bail was denied. Defence counsel was granted leave to appeal. Bail was denied again after the fourth hearing. The information remains under publication ban pending the outcome of the trial.

Robert Steven Wright denied bail for fourth time

The reasons for the decision are covered under publication ban

www.sudbury.com

 

[dotr]

rbsbm

Renee Sweeney thought she was being stalked before her murder, jury hears

‘It made her nervous,’ friend and co-worker testifies before jury in Sudbury.

www.thesudburystar.com

by Harold Carmichael

''C Y-G, who worked at the Adults Only Video store in New Sudbury and knew Sweeney as both a co-worker and friend, took the stand Tuesday.

“She was quite open,” recalled YG. “Renee had mentioned on a couple of occasions she felt that she was being followed after work. It made her nervous, so she would drive around a little bit before she went to her home.”

Y-G, who gave a statement to police three day after Sweeney’s murder, said Sweeney told her about the possible stalker at the beginning of December 1997 and up to the middle of that month.''


Justice Robbie Gordon said Kim indicated that Renee thought she was being stalked and someone was following her, and she was not sure if it was a person or car.


As well, Kim said there had been a number of hang-up calls left with Renee’s voicemail. The caller could not be traced due to the number being unlisted or blocked.

Kim also indicated Renee had recently taken up kick-boxing, was very independent, and nobody would tell her what to do.''