Sam Wood, a 46-year former reality television participant and wellness influencer from Melbourne, will approach the Supreme Court of Queensland to seek his release, after his bail application was rejected more than two weeks ago. Wood is charged with strangling and assaulting his wife, and was arrested on 4 October in Noosa on allegations of domestic violence.
The court in Queensland denied him bail, with police presenting evidence of a similar incident in Victoria approximately three years ago. Police alleged that Wood's behaviour was "escalating". Under Queensland domestic violence laws, serious charges, including "strangulation in a domestic context", carry a presumption against bail. Wood appeared before the court in Sunshine Coast earlier this month, where he was charged with two domestic violence offences: an assault causing bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic context.
The court heard that his wife, Snezana, supports the charges and that "a cessation of breathing occurred" while she was allegedly being strangled. State prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris stated: "She describes hitting her head on the floor. She could not breathe." She added: "She thought she was going to die."
In Wood's initial bail application, lawyer Matthew Cuskelly said his client denied the charges. Cuskelly cited a psychologist's report stating that Sam Wood suffers from "severe depression". "He should be given the opportunity to engage with mental health professionals," Cuskelly said. He added that Wood should be allowed to "try to salvage something of his professional reputation and career, which is currently suffering terrible blows".
"Ultimately, as in all families, there were problems. And my client has been enduring difficulties for some time trying to keep those problems out of his family. It was distressing," Cuskelly said. He also referred to the psychologist's findings describing "the difficulties my client is experiencing regarding the deterioration of his mental state". "His depression is considered extremely severe," Cuskelly said.
Wood spent four days in police custody in Maroochydore after his arrest, before being transferred to the high-security Wolston correctional centre near Brisbane. The bail hearing before the Supreme Court will not take place until next month, meaning Wood will remain in custody for at least a month.
