Former reality television star and wellness influencer Sam Wood is set to challenge a previous court ruling that denied him bail, as he remains in custody over serious domestic violence allegations.
Wood, 46, has been held at the high-security Wolston Correctional Centre near Brisbane for more than two weeks following his arrest in Noosa on October 4. He is facing two significant charges: assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting.
The legal move follows a Sunshine Coast court’s initial decision to remand Wood in custody. During that hearing, police prosecutors successfully argued against his release, citing evidence of an escalating pattern of behaviour, including a similar incident in Victoria approximately three years ago.
Under Queensland’s stringent domestic violence laws, the charge of “strangulation in a domestic setting” triggers a presumption against bail. During the initial bail hearing, police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris detailed harrowing allegations regarding the incident, telling the court that Wood’s wife, Snezana, had reported a “cessation of breath” during the attack.
“She articulates the banging of her head on the floor. She couldn’t breathe,” Grigoris told the court. “She thought she was going to die.”
In his initial bid for freedom, Wood’s lawyer, Matthew Cuskelly, entered a plea of denial regarding the charges. Mr. Cuskelly presented a psychologist’s report to the court, arguing that Wood is suffering from “severe depression” and requires access to professional mental health support that he cannot receive while incarcerated.
Beyond his mental health needs, the defence also contended that Wood should be released to manage the significant impact the legal proceedings have had on his professional life.
“He ought to be given the opportunity to engage with mental health professionals and also try to salvage something of his professional reputation and career, which is taking a hell of a beating at the moment,” Cuskelly told the court. The defence further described Wood as having been under immense strain, attempting to “quarantine” his personal struggles from his family life.
Despite these arguments, the magistrate remained unconvinced, ultimately denying the bail application. Wood, who previously spent four days in the Maroochydore police watch house following his arrest, has since been transferred to the Wolston facility.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing represents Wood’s final legal avenue for securing release in the interim period. However, it is understood that the matter is not scheduled to be heard until next month, ensuring that the former reality star will remain in custody for a minimum of four weeks as he awaits further legal proceedings.
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