Daniel William Morgan allegedly started a fire at the Osboldstone Road property he shared with the victim after attacking her.

She fled the building - which was a factory the pair used for a trailer business - after the alleged attack, with police noting she smelled of fuel when they found her.

Her clothes were "fully soaked" immediately after the May 3 incident.

The Wangaratta Magistrates Court yesterday heard Morgan had fled interstate and may have planned to change his look to avoid detection when he was arrested.

Investigators found him near a rental car in Ford Street in Wangaratta, with a hat covering his head, and in possession of shaving equipment to possibly get rid of his grey beard.

He had tried to run.

It's alleged he had been drinking bourbon before the attack and sent a message to his ex-partner stating "I'm on the ledge, do what you can to protect yourself, changes are coming, heads up".

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The woman was left stunned when Morgan allegedly started smashing items.

"If I'm going to die then you're coming with me," he allegedly told the victim as he choked her.

The court heard Morgan attacked the woman by punching her in the mouth, throwing her to the ground and strangling her, pouring the diesel on her and using the lighter near her leg.

"The victim was screaming at the top of (her) lungs, hoping someone in a factory next door would come to her aid," police noted.

She was left with marks around her neck and cuts.

Various items of property were destroyed.

Elements of the prosecution case were "very grave in their nature", magistrate Peter Dunn said.

But the accused man's defence lawyer said his client denied pouring fuel on the woman.

Morgan has previously applied for bail and was keen to be released to continue running his trailer business, which he had started in Cobram before moving to Wangaratta.

The court heard the incident occurred after a relationship breakdown.

The victim has left the region but returns to the area to visit friends and relatives.

The matter may be elevated to the County Court.

Mr Dunn said the defendant was looking at a significant stint in custody if the matter was proven.

"These cases of domestic violence, the courts are empowered to send a clear message of the community's denunciation," he said.

He refused bail will the matter to return to court on July 2.

The court heard the police brief of evidence had nearly been completed.