Sam Wood has been refused bail after a court heard his wife feared he was going to kill her during an alleged domestic violence incident at a luxury holiday apartment in Noosa, Queensland.
The 46-year-old fitness entrepreneur was arrested after police were called to the family’s accommodation on Hastings Street on Saturday night. He faces charges of assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic violence setting and strangulation in a domestic setting.
Wood will remain in custody after a bail hearing at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday. His wife, Snezana Wood, has not made a formal statement to police but provided an account in a recorded video, the court heard.
Sergeant Janette Grigoris said Snezana described being choked, having her head banged against the floor and being unable to breathe. The alleged assault ended only after one of the children called out, the court was told.
Prosecutors said Snezana believed she was going to die and was now living in fear of retribution. She supported criminal charges being brought against her husband, the court heard.
Sgt Grigoris said Wood had made “partial admissions” during a police interview, including referring to an argument in the bedroom. She described his account as “victim-blaming”.
The court was also told police had been called to an earlier incident in Victoria which was “similar in nature”. No complaint was made at the time, but Sgt Grigoris said Wood’s behaviour had been “escalating”.
Sam Wood denies strangling or assaulting his wife
Wood’s solicitor, Mathew Cuskelly, said his client denied strangling or assaulting his wife and could rely on self-defence if the case went to trial.
Mr Cuskelly said police would allege that Snezana approached Wood while her daughter Eve was being hostile, and that Wood pushed his wife away.
“My client may indeed be entitled to self-defence argument,” Mr Cuskelly told the court. “These are matters that need to be further explored.”
The lawyer questioned evidence of an injury to the left side of Snezana’s head, saying photographs tendered to the court did not show it. He also asked where injuries to her throat were.
“My client denies committing these offences,” Mr Cuskelly said. He added that Wood had never appeared before the courts and suffered from depression regarded as “extremely severe”.
Wood had sought bail to an address in Victoria, but Sgt Grigoris argued that he had no ties to Queensland and would therefore face an increased risk of failing to appear.
She said the safety and protection of Snezana and the couple’s children was the most important factor in deciding whether bail should be granted.
The family had been staying in a beachfront apartment at the La Mer complex, reportedly costing $3,000 a night, along with their three young children and Eve, Snezana’s 21-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
A police spokesperson said officers attended the Hastings Street address at about 9pm after receiving reports of alleged domestic violence. Snezana was later taken away by paramedics, while Wood was taken to the Maroochydore watchhouse.
Wood and Snezana, who met on the third series of The Bachelor in 2015, issued statements on their respective Instagram accounts on Monday.
“This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with the authorities,” each said.
Wood founded the fitness and training business 28 by Sam Wood, which was sold to DBG Health for $71 million in 2022. The company initially placed him on indefinite leave before terminating all arrangements with him.
DBG Health said it had “zero tolerance” for domestic violence. Foxes Den, a pre-packaged meal company that had worked with Wood for six years, also cut ties with him, while trainer Tiffiny Hall confirmed she was no longer affiliated with the brand.
