Media boss Antony Catalano has denied swinging a clothes iron at his wife as he launched a fresh legal bid for a plea deal over domestic violence assault charges.
asserted
he → deny → charges
Catalano, 59, is accused of the drug-affected assault of his wife Stefanie at their Melbourne penthouse in St Kilda on March 13, when he allegedly held the iron to her head and dragged her by her hair.
uncertain
he → accuse → hair
Ms Catalano has since stopped cooperating with Victoria Police and lodged a detailed statement of no complaint, signalling she no longer wants the prosecution to proceed.
asserted
prosecution → stop → complaint
On Friday, her lawyer Sarah Pratt told Melbourne Magistrates' Court she was liaising with the Office of Public Prosecutions on Ms Catalano's behalf.
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she → tell → behalf
As well as the 'statement of no complaint', Ms Catalano has also lodged a police ethical standards complaint about her treatment in the months since her husband’s arrest, alleging authorities were seeking to 'destroy' him.
asserted
authorities → lodge → him
Catalano made no comment as he finally appeared in court in person after previously attending hearings by videolink.
He is now being represented by top Melbourne barrister Dermot Dann, KC, the man who launched a successful appeal for alleged killer Greg Lynn.
asserted
who → make → Lynn
Police claim Catalano swung a clothes iron at his wife’s head, unlawfully imprisoned her in their St Kilda apartment, threatened to stab her to death, and choked or strangled her.
uncertain
Catalano → claim → her
Dermot Dann, KC (left) and Antony Catalano (centre) make their way into court on Friday
Ms Catalano was admitted to hospital with a fractured tailbone.
asserted
Catalano → make → tailbone
CCTV footage showing common areas adjacent to the Catalanos’ apartment is part of the police case against him, with Ms Catalano also providing a statement shortly after the incident.
asserted
Catalano → show → incident
Mr Dann said that CCTV may never be admissible should the matter proceed to trial.
'
uncertain
matter → say → trial
There are charges that we have grave difficulty with.
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we → be → difficulty
There's an allegation of strangling that we say in simple viewing of the CCTV demonstrates (it never happened),' he said.
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he → be → CCTV
'There's an allegation that's been widely reported of swinging an iron at his wife's head.
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that → be → head
We say the same thing: Look at the CCTV; didn't happen.'
asserted
We → say → CCTV
Mr Dann described the legal situation as ‘unusually delicate’ before warning the court he intended to make a variety of applications should it proceed as intended by the Crown.
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it → describe → Crown
'From our client's point of view, he certainly wants to avoid the drama and time associated with all that,' he said.
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he → want → that
Mr Dann suggested there were two ways that could be avoided: 'withdraw the charges or explore a plea'.
uncertain
that → suggest → plea
Catalano and wife Stefanie have since apparently reconciled following the alleged incident
The couple hope to travel overseas to escape the media spotlight
'He hasn't shut the door to that either,' Mr Dann said.
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Dann → reconcile → that
'We have been in discussions with my learned friend.
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We → learn → friend
We've even nominated a charge, which we say will suitably resolve the matter.'
asserted
we → nominate → matter
The prosecution of Catalano has been handed to barrister Jane Warren, who was central in leading the case against mushroom killer Erin Patterson.
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who → hand → Patterson
Ms Warren told the court she was in 'meaningful discussions' with Mr Dann, but she needed more time to come to a position.
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she → tell → position
The court heard Catalano had since reconciled with his wife and moved back into the family home in Byron Bay.
asserted
Catalano → hear → Bay
On Friday, The Age reported Catalano had received planning approval to expand his family’s Byron Bay compound and build a third home in the Wategos Bay enclave, creating an estate worth more than $67million.
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Catalano → report → estate
Mr Dann asked for Catalano’s bail restrictions to be softened further to allow him to travel overseas with his family to avoid ongoing media scrutiny.
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him → ask → scrutiny
Ms Catalano is reportedly already overseas and tuned into Friday’s hearing remotely.
uncertain
Catalano → tune → hearing
The St Kilda apartment complex where the alleged assault took place
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assault → allege → place
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you → need → Download
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Mail → launch → podcast
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Magistrate Donna Bakos agreed to the change, allowing Catalano to travel overseas.
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Catalano → gain → change
Catalano's bail was extended to December 14 when he is expected back in court.
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he → extend → court
After the criminal charges Catalano said he was struggling with significant mental health and substance abuse issues.
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he → say → issues
'I am deeply ashamed and humiliated,' Catalano told the Australian Financial Review in March.
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Catalano → humiliate → March
'Those close to me have been urging me to seek professional help for some time and there have been interventions by close family and friends.
asserted
Those → urge → family
I regret not heeding their advice and I continued to believe I could hide my mental health issues.
uncertain
I → regret → issues
I allowed shame and pride to prevent me from confronting these problems and seeking treatment earlier.'
asserted
shame → allow → treatment
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