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Lawyers for Stefanie Catalano are preparing to lodge an ethical standards complaint against Victoria Police over their treatment of the mother of four after her alleged assault by her millionaire husband, Antony Catalano.
Prosecutors representing Victoria Police in the case against the media mogul were notified of the intention to file the complaint earlier this week, with the explosive document set to be lodged within days.
A source close to Stefanie, but not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed to this masthead that she had, in early June, filed a detailed “statement of no complaint” with investigators over the alleged domestic violence incident at the couple’s luxury St Kilda penthouse in March.
The source also confirmed Stefanie would not give evidence in any upcoming court proceeding, which is set to resume in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in October.
Catalano, 59, is facing eight criminal charges including making threats to kill and false imprisonment.
Police allege that Antony Catalano swung a clothes iron at his wife’s head, choked and strangled her during the alleged assault. The court heard she was admitted to hospital with a broken tailbone.
A police summary before the court claims Stefanie Catalano made multiple attempts to escape the assault, before flagging down a passing car outside the $30 million property for help.
The court heard parts of the incident were captured on closed-circuit television cameras, which will now prove vital to the police case.
The glamorous and high-profile couple had previously been separated but reunited early this year before the alleged assault occurred.
After the criminal charges and her release from hospital, Stefanie flew back to Byron Bay while Antony said he was “struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues” and entered a suburban Melbourne rehabilitation facility.
In June, Catalano’s bail conditions were altered to allow him to visit his wife and their four children. It saw the couple once again reconcile their marriage and undergo counselling.
Since leaving that clinic, Catalano has appeared before the court only by video link, with a hearing earlier this month told discussions between lawyers and police were ongoing.
Catalano also owns a portfolio of residential and commercial real estate and hospitality assets in the NSW resort town of Byron Bay, as well as homes elsewhere in Australia and internationally.
The entrepreneurial businessman owns the regional and rural digital media empire Australian Community Media 50-50 with billionaire Alex Waislitz.
Following the assault, Antony resigned all his corporate directorships in favour of his 35-year-old son, Jordan.
Victoria Police, Stefanie Catalano and Antony Catalano were all contacted for comment.
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