The wife of Bachelor star Sam Wood “thought she was going to die” during an alleged domestic violence attack at a property in Noosa, prosecutors revealed in court.
The 46-year-old celebrity fitness guru — charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting — appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court via video link on Thursday where he was denied bail.
During his appearance, distressing details about the alleged attack were revealed for the first time, with prosecutor Sergeant Jeanette Grigoris alleging Mr Wood choked his wife, Perth-raised woman Snezana Wood, on Saturday night and banged her head on the floor during a family argument.
“The victim refers to she thought she was going to die, and she was in fear of her safety,” Sergeant Grigoris said.
“She does articulate there’s choking … banging of her head on the floor, she couldn’t breathe.
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“The defendant only stopped when one of the children called out.”
It’s alleged Mr Wood’s 21-year-old stepdaughter called Triple-0.
Mr Wood’s lawyer has denied the charges, saying his client could argue a self-defence case if the matter was to go to trial.
“My client may indeed be entitled to a self-defence argument,” he said.
“He is indicating a set of circumstances that may result in that.”
“Importantly, there is a denial in respect to any strangulation.”
Speaking on the details of the case, Mr Cuskelly said a dispute broke out at the Noosa holiday home.
“My client’s step-daughter engaged with him in a hostile matter,” he told the court.
“Mr Wood pushed his wife away.
In a shocking revelation, the court was told it’s not the first time police have attended the couple’s home over an incident of “a similar nature”.
Despite Mr Wood denying a previous incident, Grigoris said there was body-worm camera of police attending his home and confirmed there was a police report.
However, he said the woman “did not make any criminal complaints on that occasion, she was in fear of retribution of the defendant”.
Mr Wood has been remanded in custody until November 23.
