NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The woman charged in connection with a stabbing at a Norfolk MOD Pizza was granted bond Thursday morning in Norfolk General District Court.
Catherine Harper received a $5,000 personal recognizance bond after she was deemed a non-threat to the community, had no prior charges, promised to stay away from MOD Pizza, and, on the video, did not appear to be the attacker of the store employee. The prosecutor told Judge Michael Rosenblum that he could not, in good faith, argue that Catherine Harper should not get bond.
The incident took place Sunday, when Catherine Harper, 45, and Corey Harper, 47, were at the MOD Pizza at the Norfolk Premium Outlets. A two-minute video of the incident showed that, while at the counter, Catherine Harper claimed the order was wrong.
At 2:19 p.m. Sunday, the video showed Corey Harper and Catherine Harper standing at the MOD Pizza counter waiting for a refund. You can see words being exchanged between Corey Harper and the employee behind the counter.
At 2:20 p.m., the employee came from behind the counter and got into a scuffle with Corey Harper, who at that point had been called into the restaurant by his wife, Catherine Harper, to “settle the matter.” Catherine Harper is standing in front of Corey Harper, and the employee continued to move toward Corey Harper, and the scuffle began.
The employee took control of the physical altercation, according to the video, and got on top of Corey Harper, who is on the floor.
Another employee and Catherine Harper are trying to separate the two, as Corey Harper and the victim, the employee, spin around and the employee punches Corey Harper, knocking his glasses onto the counter. The two continued to scuffle, moving off-camera, where police say Corey Harper stabbed the employee.
Court paperwork states that “husband arrived, stabbed the victim several times, including a cut across the torso that exposed V’s intestines.”
After the stabbing, Corey Harper and Catherine Harper left the scene, and 10 On Your Side learned Corey Harper left behind a firearm, and he has been charged with brandishing a firearm, although only the knife was used in the attack.
It was evident in the video, with no audio offered by senior Commonwealth’s Attorney Phil Bailey, that she was not the one who carried out the stabbing. Bailey indicated that it was her husband, Corey Harper, who allegedly stabbed the MOD Pizza employee.
According to a court document, Corey Harper stabbed the employee so deeply that the employee’s intestines were exposed. The MOD Pizza employee is being treated at a local hospital for non life-threatening injuries, but is expected to recover.
During the video of the nearly 20-second scuffle, MOD Pizza employees could be seen running behind the counter, panicked about the attack that had just taken place, which had ultimately exposed the victim’s torso. The actual attack was just off camera, but Bailey stated that someone else has video showing the attack.
10 On Your Side attempted to talk to family members of Catherine Harper, who were at the hearing, but they declined comment.
Back in Harper’s neighborhood, a neighbor was surprised that any of this happened.
“We’ve loaned each other tools and garden equipment, and stuff like that, so like I said, this is all real news to me,” said Wayne Sarapata.
Corey Harper currently remains in jail without bond. His bond hearing is set to take place Monday, and it is likely that the same two-minute video will be played showing the attack reported in court documents.