Former reality TV contestant Sam Wood, who is accused of committing domestic violence offences against his wife on the Sunshine Coast, has been denied bail.
Justice Patrick McCafferty said the 46-year-old’s application had not proven he would not pose a risk to the safety of others, commit further offences or interfere with witnesses.
For that reason, the application was “refused”.
In handing down his decision, Justice McCafferty said the allegations Mr Wood is facing are “extremely serious”, but stressed “they remain allegations”.
He said they included accusations that Mr Wood told his wife and stepdaughter they “can both die” and he would send them back to their families, during an altercation on October 3.
The court heard Snezana Wood stood between Mr Wood and her daughter, which is when the 46-year-old allegedly pushed her into a bedroom door at their Noosa apartment.
Sam Wood’s defence team argued he should be granted bail to reside in Tasmania. (Supplied: 28 by Sam Wood, Facebook)
Justice McCafferty said it is alleged the door was then closed, which is when Snezana Wood’s daughter heard “muffled” noises, “gasping”, and “striking and bumping into walls”.
Mr Wood then allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat, pushed her against a wall, into the floor, tightened his grip further, then continued to bang her head on the floor or wall.
She “couldn’t breathe” and “could not yell for help”, the court heard.
It is alleged Mr Wood’s offending occurred after an argument the night before the family were due to leave a vacation on the Sunshine Coast, after Snezana Wood indicated she wanted to pack to depart the next day.
The 46-year-old, who lives in Melbourne, was arrested last month at a Noosa apartment complex.
He was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.
Mr Wood has denied the allegations.
‘Party lifestyle’ raised as risk
Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy argued Mr Wood shows an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending, not returning to court, and of being a risk to the “safety and wellbeing of others”.
This was due to his alleged escalating violent behaviour, with the Crown pointing to an earlier alleged strangulation incident in Victoria five years ago.
Mr Wood’s “alleged drug use and alcohol use” and his “party lifestyle” were also raised as risk factors, however his barrister stated her client did not have an addiction, therefore those factors did not reduce his ability to follow bail conditions.
The prosecution argued Mr Wood showed an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending. (Supplied: @scottbreton)
“The real risk here, and the only one … is to the complainant,”
defence lawyer Paula Morreau said.
“And that risk is effectively removed, if not removed, rendered minimal under the orders that have been made and the proposed orders as conditions of bail.”
At Friday’s bail application Sam Wood’s father Andrew Wood attended court, as it heard further details about his earlier alleged domestic violence offending.
Sam Wood’s father, Andrew Wood, attended the court proceedings in Brisbane. (ABC News: Tara Cassidy)
The court heard Snezana Wood alleged she was strangled by her husband in 2021 in Victoria, and took related photos afterwards.
“Those allegations are untested … they do not have the same support of a witness or medical attention,” Ms Morreau said to the court.
Sam and Snezana Wood met on reality dating show The Bachelor in 2015 and married in 2018. (Supplied)
She said “the matter does not have the same strength when considered objectively” as the current allegations and respective charges.
The court heard before the more recent alleged strangulation incident in Noosa, the couple’s “relationship was suffering”.
“With significant stressors and more frequent confrontations,” Ms Morreau said.
Ms Morreau suggested her client’s behaviour had not escalated, stating there had been “a substantial period of time” between the two alleged incidents.
She said Snezana Wood’s application said her husband had issues with “anger and irritation”, but that “he usually leaves and takes time”.
According to Ms Morreau, this demonstrated “he has the capacity for self-control and willingness to avoid confrontation”.
Defence barrister Paula Morreau suggested to the court Sam Woods’s behaviour had not escalated. (ABC News: Sharon Gordon)
The Crown said the fact Mr Wood could previously walk away during conflicts, and now twice had allegedly resorted to strangling his wife proved his offending was getting worse.
She also pointed to recent strangulation data and research which named it as a risk factor for future more serious criminal offending.
“It is seen as a predictive risk factor for future domestic violence and escalating domestic violence,”
she said.
She said a recent domestic violence taskforce recommended courts opt not to grant bail in strangulation cases.
Failed suppression order
As of October 30, Sam Wood has spent 27 days in custody.
Mr Wood’s bid to suppress media reporting and access to court documents was mostly unsuccessful.
His defence barrister argued journalists should not be able to publish details about Mr Wood’s previous alleged offending against Snezana Wood in Victoria years prior, or the names and addresses of people supporting his bail application.
A temporary order restricting the media’s access to non-redacted court files will remain for the next few weeks until a further hearing takes place.
Until then, the earlier allegations can continue to be reported.
Source: www.abc.net.au
