Former The Bachelor Australia star Sam Wood has been charged with domestic violence offences following an alleged incident at a Noosa property, with the case prompting a court battle over bail and widespread fallout for his business partnerships.
The 46-year-old fitness entrepreneur was arrested on Saturday, October 3, and formally charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in a domestic violence setting and strangulation in a domestic setting.
Sam appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday, October 8, to apply for bail.
During the hearing, police outlined allegations involving his wife of 11 years, Snezana Wood, and revealed that her daughter had called Triple Zero.
Sam has denied the allegation of strangulation, and his lawyer has indicated that the defence may argue self-defence. He remains in custody after being refused bail and is due to return to court on November 23.
The charges have also sparked a significant professional fallout, with businesses, brand ambassadors and public figures distancing themselves from the former reality TV star.
Here’s a timeline of the allegations against Sam Wood and what has happened since.
Timeline of Sam Wood’s domestic violence charges
Saturday, October 3, 2026: Police respond to an alleged domestic assault
Queensland Police attended a private address in Noosa at approximately 9pm on Saturday, October 3, following reports of an alleged domestic assault.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed paramedics had been called to a private residence in the area. They assessed one patient, who was reported to be stable and declined transport to hospital.
A 46-year-old Victorian man was arrested at the scene. Under Queensland law, the identity of the complainant was initially suppressed.
Sunday, October 4, 2026: Sam Wood’s charges become public
The AFR broke the news on Sunday, October 4 that Sam had been arrested and charged over the alleged incident.
The charges included assault occasioning actual bodily harm in a domestic violence setting and strangulation in a domestic setting.
Sam was refused police bail and spent the weekend in custody.
The allegations came as a shock to many who knew Sam through his public profile as a fitness entrepreneur and former The Bachelor Australia contestant. He met Snezana during the third season of the dating show in 2015, and the pair went on to build a family and several business ventures together.
Monday, October 5, 2026: Sam appears in court as family releases a statement
Sam appeared before Maroochydore Magistrates Court via video link on Monday, October 5, while in police custody.
He did not apply for bail during the appearance, and the matter was adjourned until the following Thursday.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Sam’s lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, told the Australian Associated Press that a “fulsome and well-prepared bail application” would be made. He also indicated that the charges would be defended.
Meanwhile, a joint statement was posted to Sam and Snezana Wood’s Instagram accounts, acknowledging the difficult circumstances facing their family.
“This is a difficult time for all of us: we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly cooperating with authorities,” the statement read.
Thursday, October 8, 2026: Sam applies for bail
Sam returned to court on Thursday, October 8, for a contested bail application.
Appearing via video link in prison-issued green clothing, he was represented by solicitor Mathew Cuskelly and barrister David Cole.
The hearing included allegations about what happened at the Noosa property, arguments from both sides about the available evidence and submissions about Sam’s mental health and personal circumstances.
Police outline the alleged assault
According to reporting from the ABC, acting magistrate Janelle Boegheim outlined the sequence of events that police allege took place after the couple returned home from dinner on a Saturday night.
The court heard that Snezana wanted to pack for a flight, while Sam wanted to go to bed.
Boegheim told the court that Sam allegedly yelled at Snezana and pushed her into a wardrobe in their bedroom.
The alleged confrontation then moved into the hallway, where Snezana’s daughter reportedly told Sam to stop yelling at her mother.
According to reports in The Herald Sun, Sam then allegedly approached his stepdaughter aggressively, prompting Snezana to intervene and tell him to leave the daughter alone.
Boegheim told the court that Sam allegedly grabbed Snezana by the throat with one hand and threw her against a hallway wall, causing her head to strike it.
She further alleged that Sam then threw Snezana to the ground and continued holding her by the throat, restricting her airway and preventing her from breathing.
“She does articulate the choking, that there was cessation of breath. She also articulates the banging of her head on the floor. She couldn’t breathe,” Grigoris said.
“She thought she was going to die, and she was in fear of her safety.”
Snezana’s adult daughter subsequently called Triple Zero.
Police describe the complainant’s account
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris told the court that the complainant was “supportive of the charges”.
Police had obtained a video-recorded statement from Snezana describing the alleged incident. Grigoris told the court the statement referred to “cessations of breath” and the complainant’s head banging against the floor while she struggled to breathe.
“The defendant only stopped when one of the children called out,” Grigoris told the court.
She also said the complainant had feared she would die and was frightened for her safety.
Sam’s lawyer raises the possibility of self-defence
During the hearing, Cuskelly suggested the defence could argue that Sam acted in self-defence.
He told the court that Sam’s stepdaughter had engaged with him in what he described as a “hostile manner”, and claimed Snezana had moved towards him while continuing to yell.
“My client’s stepdaughter engaged with him in a hostile manner,” Cuskelly said.
“Mr Wood pushed his wife away.”
Court hears about an earlier alleged incident in Victoria
The bail hearing also included evidence about an earlier alleged incident in Victoria.
According to the Herald, the court heard that the complainant had previously declined to make a criminal complaint to police over an incident in Melbourne.
In her recorded statement, Snezana reportedly described an earlier alleged domestic violence incident involving similar claims of choking and being “thrown around”.
Grigoris told the court that the earlier incident would be admissible under recent changes to the law.
Sam’s lawyer discusses his mental health
Cuskelly also argued that Sam should be granted bail so he could receive professional mental health support while living with his father.
The court heard that Sam had been diagnosed with severe depression by forensic and clinical psychologist Professor Ian Coyle.
“This is a man who has no prior history and (who) disputes the allegations,” Cuskelly said.
“Diagnosed with severe depression by a pre-eminent forensic psychologist [forensic and clinical psychologist Professor Ian Coyle], he ought to be given the opportunity to engage therapeutically with mental health professionals,” he continued.
“And also try to salvage something out of his professional reputation, which has taken a hell of a beating.”
The lawyer also described the personal difficulties Sam had allegedly been experiencing, saying he had been trying to shield his family from those struggles.
Sam was supported in court by his father, Andrew Wood, who had travelled from Tasmania for the hearing and provided an affidavit in support of his son.
Prosecutors oppose bail
Grigoris argued that Sam should remain in custody, citing what she described as an “unacceptable risk” of him interfering with witnesses.
She also raised concerns that Sam could fail to return to Queensland if released to live in Victoria.
“[Mr Wood] was here on holidays… there is that risk he will not return to face charges before the court,” she said.
“He does have the resources to essentially flee the jurisdiction.”
The prosecutor told the court that Sam could face a two-year prison sentence if found guilty.
Sam Wood is denied bail
Following the submissions, Sam was denied bail and ordered to remain in custody.
The ABC reported that Sam placed his head in his hands when the decision was delivered.
He is due to remain in custody until his next court appearance on November 23.
The refusal of bail does not establish that the allegations have been proven. The charges remain before the court, and Sam is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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