Former actuality tv star Sam Wooden, accused of strangling and assaulting his spouse Snezana, has made a recent bid for bail, with a court docket listening to of his alleged drug use and “occasion way of life”.
The previous The Bachelor contestant allegedly attacked Ms Wooden throughout a vacation in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast earlier this month.
Wooden, 46, was charged with strangulation and assault occasioning bodily hurt and has been in custody since his arrest on October 3, along with his first bail software denied days later.
The health guru, who dropped his lawyer Mathew Cuskelly in favour of barrister Paula Morreau KC, has made a brand new bail software within the greater Supreme Court docket.
In a listening to on Friday, Morreau detailed the pair’s relationship, saying it had been “struggling with important stressors and extra frequent confrontations”.
She referred to materials earlier than the court docket that detailed Wooden’s alleged drug and alcohol use, and a “occasion way of life”, however there was no suggestion he suffered from habit.
She stated Wooden, who had struggled with anger, would often go away to keep away from confrontation, and that willingness was an essential part to evaluate his danger for his launch.
“He’s a person who has by no means earlier than confronted a cost,” Morreau stated, including he had no historical past of home violence.
She conceded the offences had been severe, however there was no unacceptable danger to his launch. She stated there was a prospect that denying his launch would imply he would serve longer in remand than he would if convicted.
Morreau advised the court docket Wooden’s trial would most likely not be till as early as late 2027.
The barrister pointed to an earlier criticism by Ms Wooden in 2021 referenced in prosecution paperwork. She stated the allegations had been untested, and they didn’t have the identical assist of a witness or medical consideration.
Placing ahead his proposed addresses if launched on bail, Morreau stated Wooden might reside in Tasmania, the place his youngsters would have the ability to go to him.
She additionally stated there may very well be an alternate deal with in Queensland if the prosecution most well-liked.
Morreau stated Wooden was a recognisable man, and the chance he would journey to Melbourne undetected was distant. Proposed bail circumstances included that Wooden would report back to police 3 times per week, and he would attend a males’s behavioural change program.
Wooden’s costs have a most time period of imprisonment of seven years, Morreau advised the court docket. However, she added, Wooden would most likely face a two-year sentence if convicted, which the prosecution had additionally agreed.
In opposing Wooden’s launch, Crown prosecutor Jessica Man stated the pressure to Ms Wooden’s neck was for an prolonged time frame, and she or he had been unable to breathe or converse.
Wooden didn’t cease when she tried to free herself, and her head was banged on the ground, Man stated.
She stated Wooden’s conduct had escalated for the reason that 2021 incident in Victoria. She pointed to choking being a predictive indicator of escalation in home violence offending.
Particulars of the allegations had been revealed in court docket earlier this month in the course of the unsuccessful bail listening to.
The court docket heard Wooden pushed his spouse right into a wardrobe, earlier than the argument spilled into the hallway, the place Wooden’s stepdaughter, Eve Markoski-Wooden, advised him to cease yelling.
He then allegedly approached Eve aggressively, prompting Ms Wooden to intervene, inserting herself in Wooden’s path, telling him to go away her daughter alone.
He allegedly grabbed his spouse by the throat with one hand, throwing her in opposition to the wall and putting her head. The court docket was advised Wooden then threw her to the ground, holding her throat, gripping tighter and stopping her from respiratory.
Ms Wooden tried to free herself, the court docket heard, however was unable to take action, telling police she thought her husband was “going to kill her”.
The court docket heard Wooden had denied strangling or inflicting bodily hurt to his spouse.
The listening to continues.
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Cloe Learn is the crime and court docket reporter at Brisbane Occasions.Join through X or electronic mail.