Millionaire media baron faces court after allegedly attacking wife
Updated . First published at
Media baron Antony Catalano will be allowed to move his family overseas after being accused of choking and threatening to kill his wife.
The former chief executive of property portal Domain, 59, faced court on Friday in person for the first time since being charged in March.
Antony Catalano turned up to court in-person for the first time since he was charged with assaulting his wife. AAP
Barrister Dermot Dann KC said Catalano's family was in the process of relocating overseas following "intense media involvement" around his court matter and the family's desire to reconcile.
A plea deal that demonstrated remorse was also possible, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told.
The media mogul, whose business portfolio includes a premium Byron Bay retreat and restaurant and the company behind The Canberra Times and Ballarat Courier, faces eight charges after allegedly attacking his wife at their St Kilda property on March 13.
Police alleged Catalano choked his wife Stefanie, held her against her will, assaulted her with a clothing iron and threatened to stab her to death.
Since being bailed that month, he had attended court by video link only before Friday.
He sat in the front row behind his lawyers in a dark navy suit as wife Stefanie watched the proceedings over the court video link.
She did not want the charges to proceed in "any way, shape or form", Dann told the court.
Catalano and his wife are "trying to pick up the pieces" together in their family situation, the barrister said.
Allegations of Catalano strangling his wife or swinging an iron at her head were not supported by CCTV, the lawyer told the court.
He suggested the matter could be resolved by either having the charges withdrawn or by a plea.
"We're exploring a resolution. We want to demonstrate remorse," the defence said.
Magistrate Donna Bakos approved an additional bail condition requiring Catalano to give the lead detective at least 24 hours' notice of any plans to change addresses.
She also varied an existing condition permitting him to reside in Byron Bay to allow him to stay at a different address in the tourism hotspot.
The moves were not opposed by prosecutor Jane Warren.
Catalano did not make any comments to waiting media as he left court in a car waiting out front.
The former journalist founded his own publishing network focused on property classifieds, including The Weekly Review.
That company was eventually bought by Fairfax Media for a reported $100 million before he started as chief executive at Domain in 2013.
Catalano became owner of popular Byron Bay restaurant and boutique hotel Raes on Wategos the following year.
In 2019, he became co-owner of Australian Community Media after Nine Entertainment sold it for $115 million.
The company owns more than 100 regional, rural and agricultural mastheads including The Canberra Times, Bendigo Advertiser, Newcastle Herald, Queensland County Life and The Land.
The co-owner has been placed on leave until the court case resolves, ACM general manager Tony Kendall said.
Catalano's matter will return before the court for another contest mention on December 14.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
– AAP
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