NEED TO KNOW
- Former Bachelor Australia star Sam Wood has been denied bail for a second time following a hearing at the Brisbane Supreme Court on October 30.
- Wood faces domestic violence-related assault and strangulation charges involving his wife, Snezana Wood. His legal team have indicated he will fight the charges.
- The court heard allegations of drug use, alcohol consumption and anger issues, while Wood’s defence reportedly offered a $1 million surety to secure his bail.
- Wood will remain in custody at Wolston Correctional Centre.
Former Bachelor Australia star Sam Wood made another bid for bail today at the Brisbane Supreme Court, almost four weeks after his arrest in Noosa on October 3. However, according to 9News, a court has heard that Sam Wood has been denied bail for a second time.
Wood, 46, has been charged with assaulting occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation against his wife, Snezana Wood, who he met on reality dating show The Bachelor in 2015. His legal team have indicated he will fight the charges.
He is now represented by Paula Moreau KC, having parted ways with his former lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly. Wood’s latest application follows an earlier bid for bail, which was rejected by acting magistrate Janelle Boegheim on October 8.
According to 7News, Moreau addressed the allegations surrounding his personal life at the second bail hearing, saying, “There was alleged drug use, alcohol use and a party lifestyle but it is not suggested Wood suffered from addiction.”
She continued, “While the applicant struggles with anger and irritation he usually leaves and takes time [and is] willing to avoid confrontation. That’s an important component to assessing his risk.”
Moreau also noted his lack of prior offending should be considered in assessing his suitability for bail. “He is a man who has never before faced a charge; he has no adverse bail history; he has no prior domestic violence order or breaches thereof.”
She also argued that Wood had “worked his entire life and been a successful businessman”, but that the allegations and subsequent charges had left his employment “in a precarious state”.
As of October 30, Wood has spent 27 days in custody. In support of his bail, his legal team also proposed a series of potential bail conditions, including reporting to authorities three times a week, relocating to Tasmania to stay with his father, and attending a men’s behaviour change program.
Why Was Sam Wood’s Second Bail Bid Rejected?
Justice Patrick McCafferty ruled that the 46-year-old’s application be “refused”, finding that Wood had failed to demonstrate he would not pose a risk to the safety of others, commit further offences or interfere with witnesses if released from custody.
According to Australian Financial Review, Justice McCafferty refused the application despite a $1 million surety from an unnamed family member of Wood’s
What Happens From Here?
According to The Guardian, the decision means Wood will remain behind bars at the high-security Wolston Correctional Centre, potentially facing a lengthy period on remand before his trial, which the court heard could be delayed until 2028.
