FRSC 4210 – Canadian Case Study: R v. Robert Steven Wright

29 question-and-answer flashcards covering the key facts, evidence, investigative issues, courtroom findings, and exam information from the Week 6 Lecture 2 case study of R v. Robert Steven Wright.

On what date and at which business was Renee Sweeney murdered?

January 27, 1998, at the Adults Only Video store on Paris Street in Sudbury, Ontario.

How old was victim Renee Sweeney and what was her student status?

She was 23 years old and a 4th-year student at Laurentian University.

Approximately how many stab wounds did Renee Sweeney sustain?

About 30 stab wounds.

How old was Robert Steven Wright at the time of the crime and what was his schooling status?

He was 18 years old and a secondary-school student.

What cash amount and items did Wright steal during the robbery?

$178.25 from the cash drawer and three copies of a magazine.

What clothing and object did eyewitnesses note as the suspect fled?

A white T-shirt and a blue or green bag.

During what time window did eyewitnesses see the suspect inside the store?

Between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

How did eyewitnesses differ in describing the suspect’s hair?

One described clean-shaven, short hair; another described longer, messy hair on top.

Which chemical was used to locate invisible bloodstains at the scene?

Leuco malachite green (LMG).

What is a major drawback of using LMG on blood evidence?

It can degrade DNA in the treated bloodstains, leading to poor profiles.

What brand name of shoe was revealed by LMG in the store’s bathroom?

“Brooks.”

Who conducted the K9 track and at what time did it begin?

PC MacRury and his dog Oakey; the track began at 12:36 p.m.

What two notable items were found during the K9 track?

A reddish-stained teal jacket and reddish-stained white gardening gloves.

What did 5- to 6-foot-spaced footprints in the snow suggest about the suspect’s movement?

The suspect was running.

From which two sources was DNA evidence ultimately obtained?

The teal jacket and scrapings from under the victim’s fingernails.

Why was there no initial DNA databank hit in 1998?

The Canadian National DNA Data Bank did not launch until 2000.

How was Wright eventually linked to the crime in 2018?

Through forensic genealogy using cast-off (discarded) DNA, which produced a match probability of greater than 1 in 1 trillion.

Who was initially arrested on February 10 1998 due to a bloody fingerprint?

John Fetterly.

Why was John Fetterly released two days after his arrest?

His alibi placed him out of town at the time of the murder.

Name two bias problems identified in the fingerprint ACE-V process for this case.

Contextual bias (outside information like an arrest) and confirmation bias (re-examining prints to force an identification).

Which OPP officer re-analyzed the unknown fingerprints for court in 2019?

Inspector Sergeant Jeff Myatt.

Who verified Myatt’s fingerprint identification and from where?

Fingerprint expert Alison White from Reno, Nevada.

Give one crime-scene handling issue raised at trial besides fingerprint concerns.

Examples: failure to bag the victim’s hands, incomplete swabbing of the rear door lock, or poor exhibit continuity documentation.

When was Wright arrested, convicted, and what sentence did he receive?

Arrested December 2018; convicted February 2023 of second-degree murder; life sentence with no parole eligibility for 12 years.

What additional charges were laid against Wright in December 2023 and when is that trial set?

Criminal harassment, forcible confinement, and two counts of sexual assault; trial scheduled for August 2025.

When and where is the FRSC-4210 final exam?

Sunday, July 27 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in ENW 106.

How many total marks is the final exam worth and what are the three parts?

90 marks: Part A (43 marks, multiple choice), Part B (21 marks, two written questions), Part C (26 marks, applied fingerprint question).

Which fingerprint methodology must be understood to complete Part C of the exam?

ACE-V (Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, Verification).