The alleged victim of a violent assault by media mogul Antony Catalano is seeking to have court proceedings related to her case held in secret. The woman appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court via video link, where her lawyer successfully argued for the court to be closed to the public.
Her lawyer had initially applied to suppress the entire proceeding, stating the woman had become a target of online harassment and was suffering "undue distress and embarrassment" from the reporting of the matter as an alleged victim of family violence. Lawyers representing several media organizations opposed the closure, arguing it should only occur under "extraordinary circumstances" and that they had a right to be heard on the application.
While the court was closed, reporters were permitted to remain on the condition they did not report on the proceedings. Following the closed session, Catalano's barrister, Tony Hargreaves, indicated that his client intends to contest the allegations.
Catalano, 59, faces eight charges, including intentionally choking, strangling, or suffocating a family member, recklessly causing injury, assault, false imprisonment, and making threats to kill. The alleged assault reportedly occurred at his St Kilda penthouse on March 13, when he is accused of holding a clothes iron to the woman's head and dragging her by her hair. Police stated the woman was screaming for help and managed to escape briefly before being allegedly dragged back inside by her hair.
The magistrate declined to issue an interim suppression order, but the matter is scheduled for a formal hearing next week. A contest hearing has been set for October.
Catalano appeared in court via video link from an undisclosed location. He had previously been granted a variation to his bail conditions to travel to Byron Bay to see his children, provided he remained sober. At that time, the magistrate had warned him that contact with his children was contingent on his sobriety.
In March, following his initial court appearance, Catalano issued a statement acknowledging remorse and admitting to substance abuse and mental health issues. His barrister stated that Catalano had completed a 28-day rehabilitation program. Catalano himself had told the Australian Financial Review in March, "I am deeply ashamed and humiliated. 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."