A media mogul charged with assaulting his wife has avoided facing court in person over concerns that growing media attention could be detrimental to his mental health.

Antony Catalano, 59, was charged with assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill over an incident in the early hours of 13 March.

He was due to appear in Melbourne magistrates court in person for the first time since being accused of assaulting his wife, Stefanie Catalano.

His lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, said the matter had attracted intense media attention, including an incident in which an image was taken of his client during rehab.

Hargreaves described the media attention as “potentially detrimental to his mental health”. He asked for his client to be excused from appearing in person due to the media scrutiny, but acknowledged that Catalano was at his lawyer’s office metres from the court.

Magistrate Nahrain Warda granted the leave.

Appearing via video link, Catalano wore a black suit, white shirt and dark tie. He appeared to fidget at times and sat with his hands clasped during the brief hearing.

It is alleged Catalano grabbed his wife by the hair and ankles, and dragged her around a Melbourne apartment, according to multiple media reports. He is also accused of swinging an iron at her.

Catalano was also watching online on Monday.

Catalano, the co-owner of Australian Community Media, successfully sought bail after the incident during a late-night court hearing.

On Monday his case was adjourned for another hearing in June.

Hargreaves reported his client had successfully completed his 28-day stint in rehab and was had “deep remorse and sorrow” for his actions on 13 March.

Australian Community Media, the country’s largest regional and rural digital media company, owns titles including The Canberra Times and The Newcastle Herald.

Catalano bought the business from Nine Entertainment for $115m in 2019.

He spent 26 years with Fairfax and was chief executive of Domain for four years, leading the property classifieds operation through its 2017 spin-off from Fairfax into a separately listed business.

ACM general manager Tony Kendall confirmed in March that Catalano was placed on an immediate leave of absence until the court case was resolved.

Catalano is yet to enter a plea to the charges.