A woman who was allegedly choked and assaulted by the former Bachelor star Sam Wood told police she “thought she was going to die”, a Queensland court heard on Thursday.
The court also heard that police in Victoria had attended Wood’s home in relation to a similar incident about three years ago, but that the woman had not wanted to make a complaint at that time out of “fear of retribution”.
Wood, a 46-year-old wellness influencer from Melbourne, was denied bail in a Queensland court on Thursday and will be held in custody indefinitely awaiting trial, after police argued his behaviour was “escalating” and that he posed an unacceptable risk.
Wood appeared in court via video link from the Maroochydore police watch house cells, where he had been held for about four days. He was arrested at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and charged with two domestic violence offences: assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting.
In outlining the prosecution case, police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris said the brief of evidence included a triple zero call made by a family member, photographs of the victim’s injuries, and a video-recorded statement by the complainant.
Grigoris said the complainant was supportive of the charges proceeding.
Wood’s lawyer has indicated the reality TV star will fight the charges.
The court heard that in the video statement, the woman alleges she was choked and that “there was a cessation of breath”.
“She articulates the banging of her head on the floor. She couldn’t breathe,” Grigoris said.
“She thought she was going to die.”
Grigoris said the video statement by the woman also refers to a previous matter in Victoria “being of a similar nature” and “involved choking”.
The court heard that in a police interview, recorded about midnight on Sunday morning.
Wood denied that any previous incident had taken place in Victoria.
Grigoris said there was body-worn camera footage of police attending his home and a police report in relation to that incident.
Grigoris said the woman “did not make any criminal complaints on that occasion, she was in fear of retribution of the defendant.”
Grigoris also raised concern that Wood, during his police interview, minimised his part in the alleged offending, and minimised the injuries suffered by the woman.
“He’s essentially victim blamed,” she said.
Wood’s lawyer, Matthew Cuskelly, sought bail and said his client denied the allegations. He cited a psychologist’s report that said Wood was suffering from “severe depression”.
“He ought to be given the opportunity to engage with mental health professionals,” Cuskelly said.
“And also try to salvage something of his professional reputation and career, which is taking a hell of a beating at the moment.
“Ultimately, as all families have, there was problems. And my client had been enduring the hardship of attempting to quarantine those problems from his family for some period of time. It was agonising.”
Cuskelly cited a psychologist’s report that describes ‘the difficulty that my client has been enduring in respect of the deterioration of his psychological state”.
“His depression is regarded as extremely severe.”
Cuskelly said Wood had no prior criminal history and if granted bail would reside in Victoria with his father, Andrew Wood, who attended the court in support of his son.
Acting magistrate Janelle Boegheim said she was not satisfied by the defence argument that the case against Wood was weak.
“The strength of the evidence against the defendant is … relatively strong at this juncture.”
Boegheim said it was likely the charges, if proven, would attract a term in prison.
Wood was stood down by his own fitness empire, 28 by Sam Wood, on Monday, a day after he was charged.
“We have all been shocked and saddened by the matters involving Sam Wood,” said Mark Watkin, the group’s acting chief executive.
“We have zero tolerance for domestic violence. While the matter is under investigation and before the court, Sam is on indefinite leave from his duties.
“Our thoughts are with the family and anyone in the community affected by domestic violence.”
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Support for anyone affected by the subject matter of this report is available at Full Stop Australia (1800 385 578)
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theguardian.com
