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Phila. man to be tried in Olney sex assault, slaying

A 21-year-old Philadelphia man was ordered held for trial on charges that he murdered and sexually assaulted a woman behind an Olney deli on March 24.

A 21-year-old Philadelphia man was ordered held for trial on charges that he murdered and sexually assaulted a woman behind an Olney deli on March 24.

A clerk at the deli testified Tuesday before Municipal Court Judge Patrick F. Dugan that he saw the defendant, Sharod Graham, "standing over the top of the body fixing his clothes."

Graham, of the 6000 block of Callowhill Street, has been held without bail.

The victim was Eraine Merritt, a mother of four. The two apparently did not know each other before they ended up in an alley behind the Olney Steam & Beer on the 5600 block of North Broad Street. - Nathan Gorenstein