Sam Wood’s ‘party lifestyle, drug use’ aired as he makes fresh bid for bail

Former reality television star Sam Wood has lodged a fresh application for bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court, where judges heard evidence regarding his alleged drug use, alcohol consumption, and a "party lifestyle." Wood, 46, faces charges of strangulation and assault occasioning bodily harm after allegedly attacking his wife, Snezana Wood, during a family holiday in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. He has remained in custody since his arrest on October 3, following the rejection of his initial bail request days later. The hearing took place on Friday, marking a shift in Wood’s legal representation. He replaced his previous solicitor, Matthew Cuskelly, with senior counsel Paula Morreau KC, who presented the new case for release in the higher court. During the proceedings, Morreau outlined the couple's relationship dynamics, describing them as having suffered from "significant stressors and more frequent confrontations." While acknowledging that Wood had struggled with anger management, she argued that he typically left the scene to avoid further conflict, a behavior she cited as a key factor in assessing his risk profile. Morreau addressed the prosecution’s character evidence directly. She noted that materials submitted to the court detailed Wood’s use of drugs and alcohol, yet she emphasized that there was no indication he suffered from clinical addiction. She characterized Wood as a man with no prior criminal record and no history of domestic violence. "He is a man who has never before faced a charge," Morreau stated. She conceded the seriousness of the current offenses but argued that granting bail would not present an unacceptable risk to the community. A central point of contention involves the timing of Wood’s potential trial. Morreau informed the court that the trial is unlikely to commence before late 2027. Consequently, she warned that denying bail could result in Wood serving a longer period in pre-trial detention than he would likely receive upon conviction. She estimated that if found guilty, Wood would face a sentence of approximately two years, a projection with which the prosecution concurred. The maximum penalty for the combined charges stands at seven years imprisonment. To secure release, Wood’s legal team proposed specific residential arrangements. Morreau suggested Wood reside in Tasmania, where his father lives, allowing his children to visit him. This proposal differed from his earlier attempt to gain bail to live in Melbourne. An alternative address in Queensland was offered should the prosecution object to the Tasmanian location. Additionally, Morreau stated that Wood accepted a condition prohibiting him from entering Victoria, where his wife resides. She argued that because Wood is a recognizable public figure, the likelihood of him traveling to Melbourne undetected was remote. Proposed bail conditions include reporting to police three times per week and attending a men’s behavioral change program. In response, Crown prosecutor Jessica Guy opposed the release, highlighting the severity of the physical abuse. Guy described how the force applied to Snezana Wood’s neck lasted for an extended period, rendering her unable to breathe or speak. According to the prosecution, Wood did not cease the attack when his wife attempted to free herself, instead banging her head against the floor. Guy argued that Wood’s conduct represented an escalation from a prior incident in Victoria in 2021. Although the 2021 complaint is referenced in prosecution documents, Morreau noted those allegations were untested and lacked the corroboration of witnesses or medical records present in the current case. The prosecutor identified choking as a predictive indicator for future domestic violence offending, citing the presence of an adult witness and young children during the Noosa incident as aggravating factors. The sequence of events leading to the charges emerged during the earlier, unsuccessful bail hearing. The court heard that Wood pushed his wife into a wardrobe before the argument moved into the hallway. Their stepdaughter, Eve Markoski-Wood, intervened by telling Wood to stop yelling. Prosecutors allege that Wood then approached Eve aggressively. Snezana Wood stepped in to protect her daughter, placing herself in Wood’s path and demanding he leave her child alone. At that moment, Wood allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat with one hand, throwing her against the wall and striking her head. He subsequently threw her to the floor, maintaining his grip on her throat and tightening it to prevent her from breathing. Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris testified in the earlier hearing that Snezana Wood recorded a video statement describing the banging of her head on the floor and the cessation of her breath. She stated in that recording that she believed she was going to die. The charges stem from an incident that occurred earlier this month while the family was vacationing in Noosa. Wood, who met Snezana Wood on the Australian version of The Bachelor in 2015, is currently held in custody. His legal team has indicated an intention to contest the charges. The decision on his second bail application is pending, with the court weighing the risks associated with his alleged substance use and anger issues against his lack of prior convictions and proposed strict monitoring conditions.