Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
12 Days of Kindness: This aquafit instructor thought we were doing a story on healthy living, she never expected this:
Sudbury.com's 12 Days of Kindness continues today with a surprise visit to a medical exercise therapist who dedicates her free time to make sure seniors stay fit. Wendy Major has volunteered countless hours leading the aquafit class for residents at Regent Court apartments. Wendy thought we were doing a story on healthy living in Sudbury - watch as we surprise her with an act of kindness to thank her for her dedication in today's episode of 12 Days of Kindness at 7 a.m.
Accused Sweeney killer makes first court appearance:
The man Greater Sudbury Police believe brutally murdered Renée Sweeney 20 years ago appeared in bail court in Sudbury Wednesday morning. Robert Steven Wright, 39, of North Bay, faces first-degree murder charges in the case. Sweeney, 23, was working at an adult video store on Paris Street at 11 a.m. on Jan. 27, 1998, when she was attacked and killed. In the decades since, police have been searching for her killer, periodically releasing new information in hopes it would spur a new lead. Those efforts failed until Tuesday's shocking announcement there had been an arrest. What hasn't emerged yet is how police found Wright after all these years, and what motive they believe was behind the crime. Wright is tall with a muscular build, short, greying hair and a receding hairline, greying beard and wears glasses. About half a dozen friends and members of his family sat in the back of the court, later refusing to talk to reporters on the advice of lawyers. He was represented at the hearing by lawyers Berk Keaney and Michael Venturi. Keaney asked for a publication ban and agreed to a Dec. 20 court date. Wright will appear by video, when a decision on bail will be made.
'Renée fought him, and fought him hard': The history of the Sweeney murder case:
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, 1998, at 11 a.m., 23-year-old Renée Sweeney, a fourth-year Laurentian University student, was working at Adults Only Video on Paris Street when she was stabbed to death. Cash and other items were missing from the store. A short distance from the scene, the suspect abandoned a lightweight jacket and white cotton gloves, which were located by a police dog. The suspect, at the time believed to be a white man in his early 20s, left his DNA on Renée's body, as well as on a jacket he discarded after the murder. He stabbed her at least 30 times, and went to the washroom to clean up, thinking he'd killed her. He was wrong. Sweeney, somehow, made it the telephone, and that's when her killer came out of the washroom, found her behind the counter, where police think he killed her. “Renée fought him, and fought him hard,” Sgt. David Toffoli of the Greater Sudbury Police Service, then the lead investigator on the case, told Northern Life in 2010. He explained that DNA under the young woman’s fingernails indicated she had scratched the killer several times. As the killer was fully clothed, except for his face and neck, the scratches would have likely been visible. It appeared someone may have been harassing or stalking Sweeney in the weeks leading up to her death, investigators discovered. “Renée had received a number of hang-up phone calls (at home) during the two weeks prior to her murder,” Toffoli said. “She had a different behaviour. She used to park her car at work on the opposite side of the parking lot, but it was a dark area of the parking lot. In the week prior to the murder, she changed the location of her parking, and she parked directly in front of the store, which she had never done before. “We’re assuming she did this because she was scared of someone, or something happening to her. We’ve never found out what she was scared of. She never told her family, her friends, or her co-workers.” More on this story can be found here.
'I always believed it would be solved': Police chief at the time of Sweeney murder weighs in on arrest:
Alex McCauley always believed Renée Sweeney's murderer would eventually be caught. McCauley was the chief of Sudbury Regional Police in 1998, the year of Sweeney's murder. That service evolved into Greater Sudbury Police after amalgamation. “I always believed it would be solved,” said McCauley, who was the chief of Sudbury's police service from 1994 to 2002, adding that he wasn't sure whether or not it would be in his lifetime. “As new technology comes along, and watching the progression over the years that the investigators were taking, I was very encouraged that this could be resolved.” It's too early to say at this point whether the case has actually been solved. Police have arrested 39-year-old Robert Steven Wright and charged him with first degree murder. Wright was in bail court today. The charges have not been proven in a court of law. It is important to note that while Wright has been charged, those charges have not been tested in court and he remains innocent until proven otherwise.
Renée Sweeney murder: Don't jump to conclusions, Wright's lawyer says:
While police have arrested a suspect they say is linked through forensic evidence to the 1998 murder of Renée Sweeney, the lawyer representing the man accused of the crime says the public shouldn't jump to any conclusions. Berk Keaney issued the short statement this afternoon on behalf of his client, Robert Steven Wright, who faces a first degree murder charge and appeared in bail court today.. "It appears that it is the public's perception that the case is solved," Keaney wrote. "To jump to that conclusion would be a huge mistake. We will be making no further public comment while this matter is before the courts."
City votes to allow cannabis stores to open in 2019:
With an online survey showing more than 90-per-cent support, and an Oraclepoll showing 66 per cent in favour, city council voted Tuesday to opt in to the retail cannabis stores next year. Councillors were told that unlike normal projects, that go through the city's planning process, approval for cannabis stores goes through Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commisssion. Residents who are concerned about a store opening near them would send their concerns to the commission, not the city. It's also the province that regulates where the stores can go, imposing restrictions such as banning them from opening near schools. “We have no planning mechanisms to limit sites of retail stores, (that’s) covered by the province,” said Kevin Fowke, the city's GM of corporate services. The Orcalepoll poll was conducted between Dec.1-6, with 1,008 people from all 12 wards being surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 per cent. It found 38 per cent were strongly in favour of cannabis stores, 28 were in favour, eight per cent were opposed, 20 per cent strongly opposed and six per cent were unsure. The province required an answer from municipalities on the stores by January 2019, with the stores being allowed to open beginning in April.
City hopes GSU debate will pay dividends:
City council voted Tuesday to have staff develop a policy that will see Greater Sudbury Utilities pay the city a share of its net profits. But they rejected a motion that would have required the first payment of $1 million by September 2019, over fears such a short timeline would force the GSU to raise rates or delay capital work to find the money. Tuesday's debate was heated at times, with the councillors who sit on the GSU's board objecting to the motion coming to city council without speaking with them first. The issue goes back to the early 2000s, when cities with public utilities were required to create separate entities, allowing them to operate at arms-length from the municipality. In return, cities received what's called a 'promissory note.' Similar to a mortgage, the GSU was valued at $54 million, and the promissory note requires them to pay interest on that amount to the city every year at a rate of 7.5 per cent, or $3.8 million annually. The terms of the transfer also required the GSU board to come up with a dividends policy, which would outline how much of GSU profits would go to the city. But that has not happened. Full story can be found here.
Wanted Wednesday: Man with several outstanding charges wanted for breach of parole:
Sudbury Probation and Parole has an outstanding warrant for the arrest of 23-year-old Austin Ashawasagai. It is alleged that on Oct. 26, Austin Ashawasagai did breach conditions of his parole. He also has several outstanding charges. Ashawasagai is known to be in Greater Sudbury or the Manitoulin Island area. He is described as 5-10, 160 lbs with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He is wanted for breach of parole. If you know this person and where he is presently located, you are urged to call the Crime Stoppers tip line toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS or locally at 705-222-TIPS (8477). You must call this number to be eligible for a cash reward. Tips can also be submitted online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Thursday Weather:
It's going to be a damp and dreary day out there. Mainly cloudy Thursday with 60 per cent chance of freezing drizzle or flurries. Today's high will be -2, feeling like -12 this morning with the wind chill. Grey skies continue this evening with a 60 per cent chance of freezing drizzle and periods of snow beginning near midnight. Overnight low will be steady near -1. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
