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D.A.: Attempted-murder charge in Bella Vista face slashing

The man accused of slashing a 23-year-old woman’s face in South Philadelphia in November is now facing an attempted-murder charge in the brutal attack, the District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

The man accused of slashing a 23-year-old woman's face in South Philadelphia in November is now facing an attempted-murder charge in the brutal attack, the District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Cory Harley, 30, was held for court on all charges at a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning. He's charged with aggravated assault, robbery, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and related offenses in addition to the new attempted-murder charge filed Tuesday.

Police said Harley, whom they described as no stranger to law enforcement, attacked Ashley Hackett from behind as she walked home on 9th Street near Fitzwater in Bella Vista early the morning of Nov. 11. He used a knife to slash the woman's face, police said, leaving a gash that required more than 100 stitches.

Harley was arrested earlier this month after a tipster contacted police. Authorities said he admitted to the attack and led police to the knife he used, which had been discarded in a street inlet at 5th and Monroe.

Harley's next court date is set for Feb. 12, according to the D.A.'s Office.

"If that knife would've been a little bit further down on her cheek, it could've hit one of her major arteries and killed her. So this individual is reprehensible," South Detectives Capt. Laurence Nodiff said of the attack after Harley's arrest. "We are glad that . . . we were able to put this guy behind bars."