Sam Wood Heads to High Court for Bail After Domestic Violence Charges

Online fitness influencer Sam Wood, a former reality TV contestant, is escalating his fight for bail to the Supreme Court of Queensland following his remand in custody yesterday ^[1]. His legal team has confirmed they are preparing to file a new bail application "imminently".

Wood, 46, is facing charges of assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting ^[1]. These charges stem from an alleged family argument at a Noosa property on Saturday night, which police claim ended with him assaulting his wife, Snezana.

He spent his first night in prison after a Sunshine Coast magistrate rejected his initial bail application ^[1]. Wood has since been transferred from the Maroochydore police watch house to the high-security Brisbane Correctional Centre in Wacol. He is scheduled to return to court on November 23.

During Thursday's bail application, police prosecutor Sergeant Jeanette Grigoris informed the court that Ms. Wood expressed fear for her life following the alleged assault ^[1]. Sergeant Grigoris also referred to a video provided by the complainant, in which she reportedly described being "choked" and having her head banged on the floor. It was Wood's stepdaughter who made the Triple Zero call that led to his arrest, according to the court.

The prosecution opposed bail, arguing that Wood possessed the resources to potentially flee the jurisdiction ^[1]. Sergeant Grigoris also detailed an alleged previous domestic violence incident in Victoria, which she claimed involved Wood throwing his wife against a wall and strangling her. However, Ms. Wood did not file a police complaint at the time due to fear of retribution, the prosecutor stated. Wood denies this alleged Victorian incident.

Wood's lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, contended that his client should be released given his lack of prior criminal history ^[1]. Cuskelly also cited a forensic psychologist's finding that Wood is suffering from "extremely severe" depression. Acting Magistrate Janelle Boegheim ultimately denied bail. The story was first reported by ABC News (AU).