No bail, no brand: What comes next for Sam Wood

Sam Wood built a fitness empire on the promise that 28 days could change your life. He may now spend well over a year in custody before a jury hears a word of his defence.

The former The Bachelor star and fitness entrepreneur Sam Wood will remain behind bars after the Queensland Supreme Court rejected his second application for bail on charges of assaulting and strangling his wife, Snezana Wood.

Wood, 46, denies the allegations, which relate to an alleged incident during a family holiday in Noosa on 3 October. None of the charges has been tested at trial.

The day before the ruling, the fitness platform he founded completed its own separation. 28 by Sam Wood was rebranded as evvr on Thursday 29 October, removing references to the man whose name, face, and 28-day promise built it, AAP reported.

Wood rose to national prominence through the 2015 season of The Bachelor, where he met Snezana. They married in 2018.

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Why the court said no

Justice Patrick McCafferty refused the application on Friday 30 October, finding the proposed bail conditions did not sufficiently address the risks of further offending, interference with witnesses, or harm to others.

Wood’s barrister, Paula Morreau KC, proposed that he be released to live with his father in Tasmania. She argued the couple had effectively separated, and that Wood risked spending longer on remand than any eventual non-parole period if convicted.

Justice McCafferty was unmoved, describing the prosecution case as “not a weak one”.

“I am not satisfied that the proposed conditions can ameliorate that risk to an acceptable level,” he said, according to AAP.

According to ABC News’ account of the hearing, prosecutors alleged Wood pushed his wife against a door, wall, and floor, and gripped her throat, leaving her unable to breathe or call for help. The court heard that her daughter was nearby and heard noises from the room.

Prosecutor Jessica Guy also raised alleged drug and alcohol use and Wood’s partying as factors relevant to bail. Morreau argued he did not have an addiction, and that those matters did not undermine his ability to comply with bail conditions.

Justice McCafferty stressed that the accusations remain allegations. The defence told the court a trial was more likely between mid-2027 and the first quarter of 2028, although the prosecution suggested an earlier listing could be possible.

So what does it mean for Wood, and for the business that once carried his name? Mediaweek asked Nicholas Stewart, legal expert and Dowson Turco Lawyers partner. Here’s what he had to say.

Mediaweek: What does the bail refusal mean for Sam Wood?

Nicholas Stewart: It means a long time in custody until his defended hearing, unless he can show some material change in his circumstances to give him grounds to reapply for bail. It also means that his ability to instruct his lawyers and prepare his case is hampered. This is difficult for a person like Wood, who is accused of serious crimes but denies the truth of the allegations and wants to defend the charges.

QLD’s bail laws are also some of the most onerous in Australia for people accused of crimes, particularly serious crimes. Mr Wood’s offences are “show cause” offences, which place the onus on Wood to show why he should be granted liberty. But the further hurdle, which is not a hurdle faced by defendants in NSW, is that even if an accused manages to “show cause”, the Court must refuse bail unless it is satisfied to a “high degree of confidence” that the accused will not commit another serious offence when released.

The issue for Mr Wood is that the Crown relied on evidence of Wood’s substance use and a “party lifestyle”, as well as anger management issues. The judge hearing the bail application said that he could not have a high degree of confidence that Wood would not commit further offences.

Another factor in the hearing was the issue of how long Wood would remain on remand while waiting for his trial. His lawyers argued the amount of time would be longer on remand than any likely sentence he would receive if he were found guilty at trial. But the judge suggested that, while noting Mr Wood is only facing unproven allegations at this stage, the QLD offence of strangulation carries a significant maximum sentence (seven years). In other words, the judge took the view that the allegations were serious, the prosecution case was reasonably strong, and any time on remand would not necessarily eclipse the time that Mr Wood might serve if he were found guilty at trial.

Mediaweek: What does it mean for the business he built?

Nicholas Stewart: The ramifications are enormous because Mr Wood is someone we would refer to as a “key person”. Even though he sold his business, 28 by Sam Wood, into a larger company (DBG Health), he was still a prominent person in the business, because his name, identity, and getup were central to its products, social media groups, subscriber base, and apps (some of which are also targeted at women).

Now, DBG has stripped Wood of the company and has made some strong statements about Wood’s charges. Given Wood relies so heavily on his personal brand to make money, these charges effectively mean that his reputation is significantly diminished.

And it goes without saying that, if the allegations are true, the experiences of the victim/s will be life-changing, traumatic, and something they will endure for a long time.

Mediaweek: How should the media, and Wood’s friends, handle the case while it’s before the courts? Do they speak out, or stay silent until the next court date?

Nicholas Stewart: It’s tricky. I’ve seen a lot of commentary about Wood’s allegations, and some of it risks interfering with Wood’s right to a fair trial. It’s best that media organisations stick to factual reporting. Friends of Wood should take direction from his lawyers, because making public statements of support may not assist the case.

While I appreciate the seriousness of the allegations, it is imperative that Wood gets a fair trial.

Mediaweek: What would you say to anyone experiencing this kind of behaviour?

Nicholas Stewart: If anyone is experiencing coercive control or more physical domestic violence, it’s critical that you seek help. The first point of contact should be 1800RESPECT and/or someone you trust who can help you extract yourself from the situation, safely. Police forces also have trained domestic violence officers who are equipped to help victims of domestic violence.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.