Former reality television star and fitness influencer Sam Wood filed an appeal on Monday against a Queensland Supreme Court decision denying his release from custody. Wood, 46, has remained on remand since his October 3 arrest following an alleged domestic violence incident involving his wife, Snezana Wood, while the family vacationed in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.
Did You Know? Sam Wood and Snezana Wood first met on the third season of reality dating show The Bachelor in 2015 before marrying in 2018.
Expert Insight: Legal proceedings involving strangulation charges often face heightened scrutiny regarding bail due to Crown arguments that such offenses represent a predictive risk factor for escalating domestic violence. Defense strategies in these matters typically attempt to demonstrate that proposed living arrangements and supervision conditions can mitigate any perceived risk to complainants.
Bail Denied in Supreme Court After Noosa Vacation Incident
Police arrested Wood at a Noosa apartment complex on October 3, subsequently charging him with assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting. A magistrate initially denied bail days after his arrest, and he was transferred to a prison in Brisbane. Justice Patrick McCafferty denied a second bail application in the Supreme Court on Friday.
During the Supreme Court ruling, Justice McCafferty detailed allegations that Wood had consumed several drinks at dinner before an argument erupted over packing bags for departure. According to the judge, an initial confrontation involved the couple’s daughter, Eve Markoski Wood, who witnessed the events. McCafferty stated the witness alleged Wood said she and the witness could “both die, I’m going to send you back to your family.”
Snezana Wood alleged that her husband grabbed her by the throat, pushed her against a wall, and restricted her breathing. According to Supreme Court details outlined by Justice McCafferty and prosecutors, the complainant stated she ended up on the floor while being choked and could not yell out for help. Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris noted during an earlier hearing that Snezana articulated in a video-recorded statement that her head banged against the floor and skirting boards, and she thought she was going to die.
Legal Arguments and Past Allegations Heard in Court
Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy argued that Wood posed an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending and interfering with witnesses. Defence lawyer Paula Morreau KC contended that the real risk to the complainant was minimal under proposed bail conditions, which included residing in Tasmania near Wood’s father, Andrew Wood, and agreeing to a condition not to enter Victoria where Snezana lives. Morreau also suggested Wood undergo a men’s behavioural change course.
The court also examined past allegations involving the couple. Prosecutors noted Snezana Wood alleged she was strangled by her husband in Victoria in 2021, with related photos taken afterward. Morreau argued those earlier allegations were untested and lacked witness support or medical attention. Crown submissions additionally highlighted Wood’s party lifestyle and alcohol and drug use, though Morreau maintained her client did not suffer from addiction.
Legal team challenges bail refusal in appeal
Wood’s lawyers lodged an appeal against Justice McCafferty’s bail refusal on Monday. The legal team plans to argue that the court failed to give sufficient consideration to the length of time Wood could spend in prison prior to trial, that the bail decision was unreasonable or unjust, and that the judge failed to properly evaluate whether proposed bail conditions would reduce the risk of reoffending. The appeal hearing could take place as soon as Friday, November 6.
Wood has not yet entered a plea to the charges. While he awaits further proceedings, his online fitness platform 28 By Sam Wood—which he reportedly sold in 2022 for over $70 million—was rebranded as evvr, removing all references to Wood. Court files regarding the matter remain subject to non-redacted access restrictions pending subsequent hearings.
Details of arrest and charges against Sam Wood
When was Sam Wood arrested and where is he being held?
Police arrested Wood on October 3 on the Sunshine Coast following an alleged incident in Noosa. He has since been held on remand at the high-security Wolston correctional centre near Brisbane.
What specific charges does Sam Wood face?
Wood has been charged with two domestic violence offenses: assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting. He has denied the allegations and has not yet entered a plea.
When is the next scheduled court proceeding?
Wood’s legal team filed an appeal against the Supreme Court bail refusal on Monday, and the appeal hearing could be held as soon as Friday, November 6.
What factors do you think appellate courts weigh most heavily when evaluating bail appeals in domestic violence cases?
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