The second-degree murder trial against Robert Steven Wright, formerly of North Bay, is being postponed to October due to public health concerns related to the pandemic.
Wright’s five-week trial originally set for late May will now start Oct. 25, said Superior Court Justice Gregory Ellies, in his written endorsement.
In the endorsement, Ellies said on Jan. 15, he convened a pre-trial conference in this matter, during which he spoke with counsel about the current pre-trial and trial dates.
“Counsel for the accused advised that the defence would not be ready for the disclosure motion, which was scheduled to be heard in February,” said Ellies, in his endorsement.
The defence also expressed concern about the possibility that the trial might not take place in May “due to increasing public health concerns related to the pandemic.”
“The Crown and I share that concern,” said Ellies. “As defence counsel correctly pointed out, significant resources would be wasted on preparation if the trial had to be adjourned at the last moment.”
Disclosure motions take place March 22-25, while the balance of the pre-trial motions will take place June 14, 18, 21, and 24.
The trial starts Oct. 25.
Wright is waiving his right to trial within a reasonable time.
He was charged with second-degree murder in the 1998 stabbing death of Renee Sweeney, who was brutally attacked at her workplace, a video store on Paris Street, where she sustained multiple stab wounds and succumbed to her injuries.
Wright was 18 years old at the time of Sweeney's murder and was a resident of Sudbury and a student at Lockerby Composite School. At the time of his arrest, he was working at the North Bay Regional Hospital.
