Sudbury

Accused Renee Sweeney killer Steve Wright denied bail a second time

Steve Wright, the man accused of stabbing Renee Sweeney to death in Sudbury in 1998 when he was just 18 years old, has been refused bail a second time.

Wright's lawyers will push to have trial moved outside of Sudbury at hearing June 22

A balding man with a thin beard wearing a light brown shirt looks into the camera
Steve Wright was arrested and charged in 2018 in connection with the death of Renee Sweeney. (Facebook)

Steve Wright, the man accused of stabbing Renee Sweeney to death in Sudbury in 1998 when he was just 18 years old, has been refused bail a second time. 

Justice Edward Gareau issued his decision by teleconference on Thursday afternoon.

This followed a two-day bail review hearing that was held last week. The details of the arguments being made by the Crown and defence cannot be released under a court-ordered publication ban.

Wright, now 40, was arrested in December 2018 and denied bail the first time by Justice Gareau in February 2019. He's been held at the Sudbury jail since then. 

The next step as the case slowly makes its way to trial is an attempt by the defence to have the case heard in a court and by a jury from outside of Sudbury.

That change of venue motion is set to be considered by a Sudbury court on June 22 and 23. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Erik White

journalist

Erik White is a CBC journalist based in Sudbury. He covers a wide range of stories about northern Ontario. Send story ideas to erik.white@cbc.ca