Girlfriend Sentenced For Tour Manager Killing

A woman was sentenced to 23 years in prison Thursday for the 2005 stabbing death of her boyfriend, a former tour manager for musicians Billy Joel and Paul Simon.

Kathleen Connors, 39, had pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter last month in the slaying of Daniel L. Harrison, 57.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Schiels told the court that Connors, who admitted using drugs the night of the killing, “stabbed Mr. Harrison multiple times for no apparent reason” in what he called “a senseless and brutal crime.”

Harrison’s daughter, Shelly Kalfas, wept as she told the court her father “will not get to see my children, who are 2 and 7, grow up. He will not get to see my brother get married. I will not get to talk to him again or say goodbye to him.”

Police said when Connors was arrested that she and Harrison had argued violently in their Manhattan apartment, near mayoral residence Gracie Mansion, before the stabbing. They said a neighbor called police after hearing the ruckus.

Schiels said Connors stabbed the victim three times in the chest. He said blood was smeared around the small apartment, as if they had struggled.

Connors initially was charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree assault. She faced a sentence of 25 years to life in prison if she had been convicted on those charges after trial.

Connors declined to address the court on Thursday when given the opportunity.

Published reports quoted Harrison’s former wife, Eileen Cavallaro, of Kings Park, N.Y., as saying he had managed Simon’s “Graceland” and “Rhythm of the Saints” tours and was in charge of Joel’s “Glass Houses” tour.