Sam Wood denied bail after court hears of ‘party lifestyle, drug use’

Former reality television star Sam Wood, accused of strangling and assaulting his wife Snezana, has been denied bail, with a court hearing of his alleged drug use and “party lifestyle”, as further details of the alleged violence were revealed.

The former Bachelor contestant allegedly attacked Snezana during a holiday in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast earlier this month.

Sam Wood met his future wife Snezana on The Bachelor Australia in 2015.Channel TenWood, 46, was charged with strangulation and assault occasioning bodily harm and has been in custody since his arrest on October 3, with his first bail application denied days later.

The fitness guru, who dropped his lawyer Mathew Cuskelly in favour of barrister Paula Morreau KC, made a new bail application in the higher Supreme Court.

Justice Patrick McCafferty on Friday denied bail.

He said before the alleged incident, Wood had consumed several drinks at dinner, before an argument broke out at the apartment over his wife wanting to pack.

McCafferty said Wood had allegedly become angry.

“An argument commenced, not with [Snezana] but the other person [daughter Eve Markoski Wood] who was a witness to the events,” he said.

“That is said to have, according to the witness, to involve ... saying she and the witness can ‘both die, im going to send you back to your family’.”

Soon after, Wood allegedly advanced on Eve, prompting Snezana to intervene.

The couple went back into bedroom, where Eve reported hearing her mother’s voice become muffled and described hearing gasping.

Snezana alleges her husband grabbed her by the throat, and she was unable to breathe.

“[Snezana] ended up on the floor. The applicant was still holding her throat, and the complainant alleges was choking her,” McCafferty said.

He said she told police her head was banged against the floor and skirting boards.

After this, Snezana was seen by Eve to be sitting against the hallway, slumped forward, holding her neck.

The court heard one of Wood’s family members had put up a $1 million surety if released.

Andrew Wood (centre), the father of Sam Wood, is seen arriving at the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.AAPIMAGEIn handing down his reasons, McCafferty said the risk of Wood leaving the proposed bail address in Tasmania could be ameliorated by the conditions put forward, including surrendering his passport.

But he said the most significant matter for him in assessing the application was the risk of Wood committing an offence while on bail.

He found that Wood was an unacceptable risk if released.

Earlier in the hearing, Morreau detailed the pair’s relationship, saying it had been “suffering with significant stressors and more frequent confrontations”.

She referred to material before the court that detailed Wood’s alleged drug and alcohol use, and a “party lifestyle”, but there was no suggestion he suffered from addiction.

She said Wood, who had struggled with anger, would usually leave to avoid confrontation, and that willingness was an important component to assess his risk for his release.

“He is a man who has never before faced a charge,” Morreau said, adding he had no history of domestic violence.

She conceded the offences were serious, but there was no unacceptable risk to his release. She said there was a prospect that denying his release would mean he would serve longer in remand than he would if convicted.

Morreau told the court Wood’s trial would probably not be until as early as late 2027.

Sam Wood has been behind bars since October 3 on domestic violence charges.Putting forward his proposed addresses if released on bail, Morreau said Wood could reside in Tasmania, where his children would be able to visit him.

She also said there could be an alternative address in Queensland if the prosecution preferred.

Morreau said Wood was a recognisable man, and the risk he would travel to Melbourne undetected was remote. Proposed bail conditions included that Wood would report to police three times a week, and he would attend a men’s behavioural change program.

Wood’s charges have a maximum term of imprisonment of seven years, Morreau told the court. But, she added, Wood would probably face a two-year sentence if convicted, which the prosecution had also agreed.

The barrister pointed to an earlier complaint by Snezana Wood in 2021 referenced in prosecution documents. She said the allegations were untested, and they did not have the same support of a witness or medical attention.

In opposing Wood’s release, Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy said the force to Snezana’s neck was for an extended period of time, and she had been unable to breathe or speak.

Wood did not stop when she tried to free herself, and her head was banged on the floor, Guy said.

She said Wood’s conduct had escalated since the 2021 incident in Victoria. She pointed to choking being a predictive indicator of escalation in domestic violence offending.

The court earlier heard Wood had denied strangling or causing bodily harm to his wife.

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