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”.

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

Wood, 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.

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

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

In 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.

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.

Details of the allegations were revealed in court earlier this month during the unsuccessful bail hearing.

The court heard Wood pushed his wife into a wardrobe, before the argument spilled into the hallway, where Wood’s stepdaughter, Eve Markoski-Wood, told him to stop yelling.

He then allegedly approached Eve aggressively, prompting Ms Wood to intervene, placing herself in Wood’s path, telling him to leave her daughter alone.

He allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat with one hand, throwing her against the wall and striking her head. The court was told Wood then threw her to the floor, holding her throat, gripping tighter and preventing her from breathing.

Snezana Wood tried to free herself, the court heard, but was unable to do so, telling police she thought her husband was “going to kill her”.

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

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