Judge sets April trial for suspects in Sled murder

Eugene Harrison and Yvette Stewart could be sentenced to life if found guilty in the murder. Two of the three defendants accused of murdering University biochemist Vladimir Sled in October 1996 will stand trial in late April, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Eugene Clark said at a hearing Wednesday. Eugene "Sultan" Harrison, 33, and Yvette Stewart, 30, could face life imprisonment if a jury convicts them of murder and robbery charges in a trial set to begin April 27 before Clark. The suspects are being tried together for two incidents: the robbery and murder of Sled on October 31, 1996, near 43rd Street and Larchwood Avenue; and the robbery earlier that day of a Philadelphia Daily News driver at 52nd Street and Girard Avenue. The third defendant, 26-year-old Bridgette Black, is being tried separately from Harrison and Stewart because she was not involved with the Daily News case. Prosecutors believe that Black stabbed Sled when the Russian-born scientist fought back against Harrison, who was trying to rob him and his fiancee, then-University researcher Cecilia Hagerhall. Stewart allegedly waited in the getaway vehicle. Also at Wednesday's hearing, Assistant District Attorney Dick Carroll, the case's prosecutor, officially told Clark that he will not seek the death penalty for Harrison and Stewart. Carroll had indicated soon after their arrests in November 1996 that he would pursue the death penalty, but softened his stance earlier this year. Attorneys for Harrison, of the 5200 block of Arch Street, and Stewart, of the 500 block of North Allison Street, did not return repeated phone calls for comment this week. Harrison and Stewart's trial, which will be in room 702 of the Criminal Justice Center at 13th and Filbert streets, will likely last about eight days, Carroll said. One of his star witnesses will be Hagerhall, who has moved to Sweden since the murder. She is willing to return to Philadelphia to testify at any time, Carroll said. The prosecution will also bring up Stewart's conduct during the police lineup soon after her arrest in November 1996. Carroll said that before arriving for the line-up, Stewart dyed her hair and changed her appearance. At the same time, her sister came to stand in the lineup and wore makeup to look like Yvette Stewart. Such a move could prove she was trying to hide something, Carroll said. Black, on the other hand, will essentially not contest her role in the murder. At a March 12 hearing, Black's lawyers plan to officially ask for a "degree-of-guilt" hearing. In such a hearing, Black would admit to having a role in the murder and allow Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Temin, who has handled all preliminary matters for all three defendants, to decide exactly what crime she committed. Black and her lawyers have not decided yet whether she will testify against the other two defendants, Carroll said yesterday. Black's attorney, public defender Fred Goodman, declined to comment. Carroll said yesterday he is no longer willing to offer any kind of deal to Black, of the 5100 block of Reno Street. But he said Black may decide to testify as a show of good faith. "The only way she'll stand either a scintilla of a chance in [the degree-of-guilt hearing] is by cooperating with me," Carroll said. In a statement allegedly taken by Philadelphia police soon after her arrest, Black said she was waiting in the getaway car with Stewart when she heard the fight break out. She then got out the car to help Harrison and did not mean to kill Sled, she said. Prosecutors believe that Stewart and Harrison planned the robbery without Black's knowledge. Black also allegedly said in her statement that Stewart fired a gun, which Stewart denies. "That's a crucial piece of evidence and I want it in the case," as it shows that Stewart and Harrison had deadly weapons in their possession, Carroll said. Stewart has denied any participation in the robbery, and Black's testimony could be one of the only things linking her to the murder. Carroll added, though, that he thinks he has enough evidence to convict both Harrison and Stewart without Black's help.