Sled robber, killer to be sentenced Monday

The sentencings will likely end the saga surrounding the murder of Penn biochemist Vladimir Sled. The nearly two-year-long saga that has followed the murder of University biochemist Vladimir Sled is scheduled to come to an end Monday when the final two people convicted of charges related to his death receive their sentences. Eugene "Sultan" Harrison, 34, and Yvette Stewart, 31 -- who both celebrated birthdays in prison this week -- are scheduled for sentencing hearings Monday afternoon in front of Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge James Lineberger. In their back-to-back May trials, Harrison was convicted of robbery and other related charges but acquitted of the murder charge. Stewart, though, was convicted by a different jury of third-degree murder. Both were also convicted of charges stemming from the robbery of a Philadelphia Daily News driver earlier that same day. Harrison and Stewart, as well as a third defendant, 27-year-old Bridgette Black -- who was found guilty of third-degree murder over the summer and sentenced to five to 12 years in prison -- were charged in connection with the murder-by-stabbing of Sled, 38. The incident occurred on October 31, 1996, on the 4300 block of Larchwood Avenue. Sled and his fiancee Cecilia Hagerhall, then a University researcher, were walking home at around 11 p.m. when Harrison approached them and tried to take Hagerhall's purse. When Sled started fighting with Harrison, Black emerged from the getaway car wielding a knife, and stabbed Sled. Black, a prostitute who had no previous criminal record in Philadelphia, expressed extreme remorse for the act and has maintained that she meant only to "poke" Sled to "scare him." She said she only involved herself in the struggle because Stewart had a gun and she was worried that Stewart might use it. Stewart had denied having a gun, though she said in a statement given to police after her arrest that she had heard a gunshot. A jury convicted her of possessing an instrument of crime, on top of the other charges. Black did not contest the charges against her, and testified against Harrison and Stewart during their trials. During the joint sentencing hearing, Lineberger will review pre-sentencing reports and mental health evaluations for the defendants, according to Assistant District Attorney Mark Gilson, who took charge of the case since June, when then-prosecutor Dick Carroll went into private practice. "The judge wants to take a lot of things into consideration" before imposing sentences, Gilson said. Both sides will have the chance to present evidence and call witnesses. The defense may call family members or the defendants themselves to talk about their remorse and their overall character and background. The prosecution may then respond by presenting evidence showing the impact of the crime, Gilson said, including letters written by Hagerhall as well as Sled's ex-wife, with whom he has a teenage son. Gilson said he may also call some of Sled's Penn colleagues to present a live witness. Lawyers for Harrison and Stewart did not respond to repeated phone calls this week. Based on the specific crimes they were convicted of, Harrison and Stewart could receive up to 65 years and 94 years in prison, respectively, under state guidelines. But those guidelines are only suggestions, and the judge can go above or below them. Prior records and mitigating circumstances must also be taken into account. Gilson speculated that since Lineberger did not preside over most of the trials -- he took over for the last month after Common Pleas Judge Eugene Clarke died of a heart attack -- he may "more or less just stick with the guidelines because he's not really familiar with the case." The hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Room 701 of the Criminal Justice Center at 13th and Filbert streets, though Gilson said that the time could change right up until Monday morning.