Former reality television personality Sam Wood has been refused bail after a court heard allegations that he strangled his wife at a Sunshine Coast apartment. Justice Patrick McCafferty handed down the decision on Friday, finding the 46-year-old had not shown he would avoid reoffending, endanger others or tamper with witnesses if released. The Melbourne man was taken into custody last month at an apartment complex in Noosa, according to ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Why it matters
The ruling keeps Wood behind bars ahead of any trial and follows a bail application that aired detailed and contested allegations of domestic violence. The Crown argued his release would carry an "unacceptable risk" to the safety and wellbeing of others, pointing to what it described as escalating violence. The case has also drawn attention to how courts treat strangulation allegations, with prosecutors citing research and a recent domestic violence taskforce recommendation that bail generally not be granted in such matters.
What the court was told
Justice McCafferty described the allegations as "extremely serious" while making clear they have not been proven, stressing that they remain allegations. According to the ABC, the court heard that during an altercation on October 3, Wood allegedly told his wife and stepdaughter they "can both die" and that he would send them back to their families.
The dispute is alleged to have arisen the night before the family was due to leave their Sunshine Coast holiday, after Snezana Wood said she wanted to pack for the next day's departure. The court heard she stood between her husband and her daughter, and that Wood allegedly pushed her into a bedroom door at the Noosa apartment. The door was then allegedly shut, and the daughter reportedly heard muffled sounds, gasping, and striking and bumping against walls.
It is further alleged that Wood seized his wife by the throat, forced her against a wall and onto the floor, tightened his hold, and then struck her head against the floor or wall. The ABC reports that these accounts were put before the court during the bail hearing.
Competing arguments on risk
Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy contended that Wood posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending, of failing to appear in court, and of harming others. She cited what she characterised as escalating violent conduct and referred to an earlier alleged strangulation in Victoria five years ago. The Crown also raised his alleged drug and alcohol use and a "party lifestyle" as factors bearing on risk.
Defence barrister Ms Morreau rejected the suggestion that her client had an addiction, telling the court those factors therefore did not diminish his capacity to comply with bail conditions. She argued that any risk would be effectively removed, or at least reduced to a minimal level, under the conditions proposed.
The court heard that Snezana Wood has alleged she was strangled by her husband in Victoria in 2021 and took photographs afterwards. Ms Morreau said that allegation is untested and lacks the support of a witness or medical attention, and that the earlier matter is objectively weaker than the current allegations and charges.
She also disputed the escalation argument, noting a substantial gap in time between the two alleged incidents. According to her, her client's behaviour had not worsened, and his wife's application had described him as having problems with anger and irritation but as someone who "usually leaves and takes time". Ms Morreau said this showed he was capable of self-control and willing to avoid confrontation.
The Crown took the opposite view, arguing that the fact Wood had previously been able to walk away from conflicts, and had now twice allegedly resorted to strangling his wife, demonstrated that his offending was worsening. The prosecutor also referred to recent strangulation data and research identifying the act as a risk factor for more serious future offending, and to the taskforce recommendation against granting bail in such cases.
Suppression bid fails
Wood's attempt to prevent reporting and restrict access to court documents was also unsuccessful. His barrister had argued that journalists should not be permitted to report on the earlier alleged offending against his wife in Victoria, nor to publish the names and addresses of people supporting his bail application. The court declined that application.
Wood's father, Andrew Wood, attended Friday's hearing as further details of the earlier allegations were presented.
What happens next: Wood remains in custody, and the matter is expected to return to court as the charges progress.