The alleged domestic violence charges against Sam Wood by wife, Snezana Wood have brought renewed attention to a form of violence that is often misunderstood: strangulation.
The former Bachelor Australia star turned fitness influencer was arrested after police were called to a property on Noosa’s Hastings Street on October 3rd around 9 pm, where the 46-year-old was charged with assaulting occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting.
During a bail hearing held at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 8th, the court heard that his wife, Snezana Wood, “thought she was going to die” during the alleged incident. Wood’s lawyer, Matthew Cuskelly, told AAP he intends to dispute the charges, issuing a firm denial regarding allegations of strangulation.
According to Carmella Acciarito, Founder Director and Principal Lawyer at Domestic and Family Violence Lawyers, tells marie claire that a strangulation charge notes that “police are treating the allegation as high-risk”.
“Across Australia, non-fatal strangulation is now recognised in legislation, policing, and coronial findings as one of the strongest predictors of future homicide in a domestic setting.”
“When police lay this charge, they are signalling that the alleged conduct involves intentional force to the neck or airway, an act that can cause catastrophic internal injury within seconds and death within minutes.”
The Alarming Facts Of Strangulation
- 50% of strangulation victims show no visible external marks or bruising
- 4 to 10 seconds of pressure can cause loss of conciousness
- There’s a 7 to 8 times higher risk of future homicide for non-fatal strangulation survivors
What Constitutes Strangulation In A Domestic Violence Context?
When trying to define strangulation, you may think the answer is obvious, but the danger of the violent act lies in its ability to go undetected.
Strangulation encompasses any act that restricts a person’s breathing or blood flow, even for a short period and can include placing hands around the neck, applying pressure to the throat, covering the mouth or nose, using an object to restrict breathing or any other act that impedes airflow and circulation.
“Loss of consciousness and visible injuries are not required for strangulation to be medically serious or legally significant,” Acciarito says.
The absence of physical injury can be deeply misleading as internal injuries and neurological complications can emerge later.
“In fact, around 50% of victim-survivors show no external injuries at all, which is why the offence is treated as a distinct and extremely serious form of violence.”
Strangulation Includes:
- Hands around the neck
- Pressure to the throat or sides of the neck
- Covering the mouth or nose
- Using an object to restrict breathing
- Any action that impedes airflow or circulation, including brief compression
The Dangers Of Strangulation In Domestic Violence
A dangerous misconception of strangulation is that a person has to be unconciouis or visibly injured for the incident to be life-threatening.
“What people often don’t realise is that it takes only 4–10 seconds of pressure to cause loss of consciousness, as little as 60–90 seconds to cause brain injury and 2-t minutes to cause death.”
The most troubling factor is the ability for the act to go undetected, even when serious damage is caused.
“A perpetrator can apply and release pressure quickly, leaving no bruising, no petechiae, and
no obvious trauma.”
“After representing more than 180 family violence clients — including at least 15 matters involving strangulation, I can say with absolute clarity that this assumption is dangerously wrong.”
Why Strangulation In A Domestic Violence Setting Matters
Perhaps the most important context around strangulation is its relationship with future lethal violence.
According to Acciarito, research indicates that victim-survivors who have been strangled by a partner are “seven to eight times more likely to later be killed by that partner”.
“Victim-survivors who have been strangled by a partner are 6 times more likely to experience escalating, repeated violence, 3 times more likely to be sexually assaulted and 2 times more likely to be stalked.”
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