Media mogul out of rehab but avoids court over mental health concerns

Media mogul Antony Catalano is out of rehab but has been excused from appearing in court in person over allegations he assaulted his wife.

Catalano’s lawyer Tony Hargreaves told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday that his client had recently completed 28 days at a rehabilitation facility, and that facing the waiting press pack at court might be “detrimental” to his health and recovery.

Instead, he appeared wearing a black suit and white shirt via videolink from an office around the corner.

Catalano’s wife Stefanie also watched the proceedings remotely, from a separate location.

The chair of Australian Community Media has been charged with assault and threatening to kill his wife and the mother of four of his nine children at their St Kilda penthouse.

Police allege Catalano dragged Stefanie by the hair and ankles through their apartment in the early hours of March 13, swung an iron at her head and threatened to stab her. After multiple attempts to escape, she managed to flag down a passing car outside for help, according to detectives, and was later hospitalised with a fractured coccyx.

Following initial inquiries from the magistrate about Catalano’s whereabouts, he was ordered to turn on his webcam before Monday’s proceedings continued.

Hargreaves requested more time to obtain medical reports, including from a forensic clinician, on his client’s substance abuse issues, while saying it was still “early days” in his recovery.

But he said Catalano was remorseful and had accepted he was on drugs when the incident occurred.

Catalano, who has not yet been asked to enter a plea, has stepped down temporarily as chair of Australian Community Media and checked himself into rehab after being charged, citing longstanding addiction and mental health issues.

At times, he held his head in his hands during the brief hearing, which was adjourned until June.

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