Robert Steven Wright made another court appearance March 27 for an update on his case. Wright, convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Sudbury woman Renée Sweeney, is facing charges of criminal harassment, forcible confinement and two counts of sexual assault from incidents in North Bay predating his Sudbury murder conviction.
Wright was charged on Dec. 14, 2023. He is already serving a life sentence, with parole eligibility after 12 years.
In court Feb. 28, a representative of Wright’s lawyer Joseph Wilkinson, said the defence has yet to receive the complainant’s statement. That was the same complaint of counsel at Wright’s March 27 hearing.
Wilkinson’s representative, Liam Thompson, told the court “this matter was adjourned to this day because we are still waiting for the statement of the complainant in this matter,” said Thompson. “ I don't believe it has been disclosed to date. I'd be grateful if my friend could provide an update as to when that may be forthcoming.”
Crown Attorney Terri Regimbal replied that she could not open the necessary file, but she spoke with the assigned Crown on the case, Sharon Tysick.
“I communicated with her yesterday, and she said she's going to be reviewing what she has,” said Regimball. “But I don't have a specific answer about the videotape statement of the complainant, and I can't access the digital hub to see what that is, to see if it's part of what she's reviewing.”
She suggested Thompson contact Tysick for further information on the case.
The matter was adjourned for another two weeks to allow counsel to sort out the disclosure.
Wilkinson was retained by Wright soon after murder conviction and is the lawyer who filed a notice of appeal in the case, though the appeal itself has not been filed as yet.
On Jan. 3, when Wright appeared in North Bay court before Justice Erin Jane Lainevool, Crown Attorney Terri Regimbal asked the judge to issue a publication ban on the names of the complainants and any identifying information, which was granted.
A representative of Wilkinson told the court Feb. 28 once the disclosure is received, the case will proceed to a Crown pre-trial (CPT).
Wright will be back in North Bay court April 10.
Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com