By William Ton in Melbourne

Media mogul Antony Catalano has turned up to court in-person for the first time since he was charged with assaulting his wife.

The co-owner of Australia’s largest rural and regional digital news outlet, Australian Community Media, has been accused of intentionally choking, strangling or suffocating his wife, Stefanie, at a St Kilda property in the early hours of March 13.

Catalano walked into the Melbourne Magistrates Court flanked by his lawyers, Tony Hargreaves and Dermot Dann, on Friday morning ahead of a contest hearing.

It’s the first time he has appeared in court in person since being charged in March, having previously only appeared via video link.

The millionaire media boss is facing eight criminal charges, including recklessly causing injury, making threats to kill and assault.

Police alleged the 59-year-old choked his wife, held her against her will, assaulted her with a clothing iron, and threatened to stab her to death.

Catalano had successfully completed a 28-day stint in rehab and had “deep remorse and sorrow” for his actions on March 13, his defence lawyer said during a previous hearing.

He bought ACM, which owns titles including The Canberra Times, The Land and The Newcastle Herald, from Nine Entertainment for $115 million in 2019.

But the co-owner has been placed on leave until the court case resolves, ACM General Manager Tony Kendall said.

Catalano has been on bail since March and successfully argued to vary the conditions so he could travel interstate to stay at his property in Byron Bay.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.