Former Bachelor star Sam Wood has lodged an appeal against the decision to deny him bail after he was accused of strangling and assaulting his wife, Snezana, during a holiday in Noosa.
Wood, 46, has been held on remand since his arrest on October 3. He was initially refused bail by a magistrate before being transferred to a prison in Brisbane.
The fitness influencer was denied bail for a second time in the Supreme Court last Friday. His lawyers filed an appeal against that ruling on Monday.
Justice Patrick McCafferty said Wood had consumed several drinks at dinner before an argument began over Snezana wanting to pack their bags.
The judge said Wood allegedly became angry and argued with Eve Markoski Wood, who witnessed the events. He is alleged to have told the pair: “You can both die, I’m going to send you back to your family.”
According to the account outlined in court, Wood then moved towards Eve before Snezana intervened. The couple returned to their room, where Eve allegedly heard her mother’s voice become muffled and heard gasping.
Snezana alleges that Wood grabbed her by the throat and prevented her from breathing. Justice McCafferty said she ended up on the floor while Wood was allegedly still holding her throat.
Wood’s appeal will argue that insufficient consideration was given to the length of time he could spend in custody before trial. His lawyers will also submit that the decision was unreasonable or unjust and that proposed bail conditions were not properly considered as a way of reducing the risk of further offending.
The appeal could be heard as soon as Friday, November 6.
