Former reality television star and fitness guru Sam Wood has appeared via video link in a Queensland court, as he fights to be given bail while facing charges of domestic violence.
Wood, 46, faces domestic violence allegations, including assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation, after an incident on Hastings Street in Noosa in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Saturday evening.
At a hearing in a local Sunshine Coast court on Thursday afternoon, Wood appeared via video link before a court packed with more than a dozen journalists.
Wood sat with his hands clasped, wearing the prison-issued green clothing. He often looked at the ground.
His lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly said his client had indicated a set of circumstances that may result in him being entitled to a self-defence argument.
He said there were hostilities, in that the complainant had engaged with him in a “hostile manner”, and had been yelling at Wood.
Wood pushed the complainant, Cuskelly said, and Wood denied any accusation of strangulation.
Cuskelly began the bail application by referring to a report tendered to the court by an attending paramedic.
He said the report detailed markings on the left side of the complainant’s neck.
Cuskelly submitted there was a lack of information provided by emergency services, and pointed to the fact given the gravity of the alleged assault, there was minimal indication of what was being asserted by the complainant.
He said while the prosecution had tendered two photos of the alleged victim’s injuries, there was a lack of photos of the neck.
“Given that seems to be the focus of the alleged assault, one would assume investigators would have photographed that particular area, but they are absent,” Cuskelly said.
The court heard the complainant had provided a video recorded statement regarding the incident.
Police prosecutor Jeannette Grigoris said police had been in contact with the complainant, who was “supportive of the charges”.
Wood was supported in court by his father, Andrew Wood, after members of Wood’s immediate family returned to their home in Melbourne’s Brighton earlier this week, with the couple’s young children heading back to school.
The court heard Andrew Wood, who had tendered an affidavit in support of Wood, had flown from Tasmania for the hearing.
After his arrest and as he remained in custody, Wood and his wife Snezana, who he met during season three of The Bachelor in 2015, issued a statement on Monday morning, describing it was a “difficult time”.
“We are working through this as a family and are cooperating with authorities,” it read.
“This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are cooperating with authorities,” it read.
After rising to fame on the Bachelor, Wood went on to build online fitness and nutrition business, 28 by Sam Wood. It was bought by billionaire businessman Dennis Bastas in 2022 for $71 million.
Bastas issued a strong message of not tolerating domestic violence earlier this week, as he dropped Wood, who had remained as the face of the online workout platform, from the company.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732.
More to come.
Cloe Read is the crime and court reporter at Brisbane Times.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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