Bachelor star Sam Wood and his wife, Snezana, are expected to separate, his lawyer told the Supreme Court during an application for bail after he spent almost a month in custody.
The court heard allegations involving drug use, partying and increasingly regular confrontations as Paula Morreau KC argued for the 46-year-old to be released to live with his father in Tasmania.
Wood has been held on remand since his October 4 arrest. He is accused of strangling and assaulting 45-year-old Snezana after an alleged argument at a luxury holiday apartment in Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Ms Morreau argued Wood could ultimately spend more time in custody awaiting trial than he would receive as a prison sentence if convicted.
She said strict proposed bail conditions, together with Wood relocating interstate, would “demonstrably reduce the relevant risk” to the community.
Wood did not attend the hearing, either in person or via video link from Wolston Correctional Centre, where he is being held.
The bail application placed his marriage under renewed scrutiny, with the court hearing allegations of alcohol and drug use, arguments and an earlier choking incident said to have occurred in 2021.
Ms Morreau said Snezana had described significant tension in the relationship during the month before the alleged assault.
Former Bachelor star Sam Wood and his wife, Snezana, are expected to separate, his lawyer told the Supreme Court during his bail bid after almost a month behind bars
Wood was jailed after an alleged dispute at a luxury Noosa apartment, while his reputation, business and marriage appear to have unravelled during his time in custody
Wood was arrested after his 21-year-old stepdaughter, Eve Markoski-Wood, called police on October 3 and alleged he had harmed her mother at the family’s $3,000-a-night La Mer apartment on Hastings Street in Noosa. Wood is pictured with Snezana and Eve
“They are expected to separate. There was alleged drug use, alcohol use and a party lifestyle, but it is not suggested Wood suffered from addiction.”
Ms Morreau accepted that Wood had struggled with anger and irritation, but said he generally removed himself from confrontations and “had the capacity for self-control”.
“While he struggled with anger and irritation, he usually leaves and takes time, and is willing to avoid confrontation,” she said.
Ms Morreau said the current allegations were “supported by another witness”, while the claims relating to the earlier incident had not been tested.
The court heard Snezana had retained photographs from an alleged 2021 incident in which she said Wood also choked her.
Crown Prosecutor Jessica Guy told the court Wood’s alleged violent conduct had “escalated” and noted police had been called over the earlier choking claim in 2021.
She highlighted “a number of serious features” in the alleged October 3 incident in Noosa.
“It was for an extended period of time, there was a degree of force and her ability to speak was removed. Snezana tried to remove his hand or hands from her neck when she hit the skirting board, and he was not deterred despite it occurring largely in the presence of an adult witness and near young children.”
Snezana Wood was seen without her wedding ring earlier this month. Police said they had strong evidence supporting claims she was choked until she experienced a “cessation of breath” before her head was struck against the floor, the court previously heard
Wood hopes to live with his father, Andrew, if granted bail. His father said he stood by his son but had not seen him since Wood was held in the watch house. Asked whether it was a difficult time, he replied: “Of course it is”
Ms Guy said any assessment of Wood’s risk to the community or others had to consider “the nature of this type of conduct, the nature of strangulation and choking as a predictive risk factor for future domestic violence and escalating domestic violence”.
Prosecutors said they would prefer Wood to remain in Queensland if bail were granted.
Ms Morreau, however, argued Tasmania would be the safest option, pointing to its island location and the support available from Wood’s family.
Under the proposed bail conditions, Wood would live in Tasmania with his father, Andrew, who has continued to support him.
Before the hearing, Wood’s father mostly declined to comment but said he had not seen his son since he was held in the watch house after his arrest.
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Asked whether he stood by his son, he replied: “Yes.”
When asked if it was a very difficult time, he said: “Of course it is.”
Wood was arrested after his 21-year-old stepdaughter, Eve Markoski-Wood, called police on October 3 and alleged he had harmed her mother at the family’s $3,000-a-night La Mer holiday apartment on Hastings Street in Noosa.
Wood exchanged a life of luxury for a notorious high-security prison reportedly plagued by sexual assaults, poor food and a strict ban on social media
The prison cell is a stark contrast to the $7 million home Wood bought in Melbourne’s affluent Brighton suburb in February. The property is now on the market
The alleged incident involving Wood took place at La Mer, a luxury beachfront complex on Noosa’s exclusive Hastings Street
Police allege the attack was so serious that Snezana feared she was going to die.
Wood allegedly argued with his wife on the night before the family was due to fly home to Melbourne after their Noosa holiday.
He was arrested and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic violence context and strangulation in a domestic setting.
Wood was first held at the Maroochydore watch house before being transferred to Brisbane Correctional Centre and later Wolston Correctional Centre.
He was initially refused bail in Maroochydore Magistrates Court before taking his application to the Supreme Court.
Since his arrest, Snezana has stopped wearing her wedding ring, while the couple’s $6 million mansion in Brighton, Victoria, has been listed for sale.
The couple have three young daughters together. Eve is Snezana’s daughter from a previous relationship.
During an earlier bail hearing at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 8, police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris tendered photographs of injuries Snezana allegedly suffered.
In opposing bail, Ms Grigoris submitted photographs said to show the injuries allegedly sustained by Snezana.
Snezana Wood, formerly Markoski, met Sam Wood while appearing on the top-rating reality television show The Bachelor
Images taken outside Sam Wood’s Brighton gym, The Woodshed, show its name has been painted over on the building’s exterior
She said there was strong evidence supporting the claim that Snezana had been choked until she experienced a “cessation of breath” before her head was allegedly struck against the floor.
“She thought she was going to die … she is in fear of retribution,” Ms Grigoris said.
Wood’s lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, previously told the court his client had no criminal record and that his account of events could support a self-defence argument, saying there had been “hostilities”.
“He pushed her away. There is denial of any strangulation,” he said.
Acting Magistrate Janelle Boegheim nevertheless refused bail, describing the prosecution case as relatively strong. She said bail could be reconsidered if the strength of the case changed.
Wood became nationally known after appearing on the third season of The Bachelor in 2015, later building a successful home fitness business, 28 by Sam Wood.
He reportedly sold the business in 2022 for more than $70 million but continued as the face of the online platform.
The platform was rebranded as evvr on Thursday, removing references to Wood.
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