Sam Wood’s neighbours at $3,000-a-night Noosa holiday villa reveal what they witnessed before DV charges were laid – as details emerge of the multi-millionaire’s ‘mental health concerns’ in lockup
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Sam Wood, a multi-millionaire businessman and former Bachelor star, has been arrested and charged with domestic violence offences following an alleged incident at a luxury beachfront resort in Noosa on Saturday night. The 46-year-old has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation in a domestic setting, with the alleged incident occurring whilst he was staying with his wife Snezana and three of their children at La Mer, a $3,000-a-night property on Hastings Street.
Neighbours at the resort complex witnessed emergency services arriving at the property on Saturday evening, with one guest recalling seeing a woman taken away by paramedics and Wood being questioned by police around 9pm before his arrest. Wood failed to appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday morning due to mental health concerns, with his lawyer requesting the case be relisted on Thursday, when Wood is expected to apply for bail. He remains in custody at Maroochydore watchhouse pending the bail hearing.
- Former Bachelor star Sam Wood arrested on domestic violence charges at Noosa villa
- Charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation
- Remains in custody awaiting bail hearing Thursday
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Sam Wood is a wealthy Australian businessman and television personality who previously appeared on the reality dating programme The Bachelor. He was arrested following an alleged incident at a luxury holiday resort in Noosa on Saturday evening.
Wood has been charged with domestic violence offences, including assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation. The alleged incident occurred whilst he was staying at the resort with his wife and three of their children.
The case has drawn attention because of Wood's profile as a well-known businessman and media personality. The incident prompted emergency services to attend the beachfront property, with neighbours witnessing the emergency response.
Full account
Former Australian Bachelor star and fitness businessman Sam Wood has been charged with two domestic violence offences following an alleged incident at a luxury holiday apartment in Noosa, Queensland. Police said a 46-year-old Victorian man was charged on 4 October with assault occasioning bodily harm in a domestic violence setting and strangulation in a domestic setting. The allegations have not been tested in court. Wood’s lawyer, Mathew Cuskelly, said his client intends to defend the charges.
The Daily Mail identified the property as La Mer, a beachfront complex on Hastings Street where apartments were described as costing more than A$3,000 a night. It reported that Wood was staying there with his wife, Snezana, their three young daughters and Snezana’s adult daughter, Eve. The account does not establish which family members, if any, witnessed the alleged incident.
Guests in neighbouring accommodation told the Daily Mail that police and paramedics arrived on Saturday evening. One said she had heard no disturbance before their arrival, but saw a woman admit paramedics to the apartment. She said a woman was later taken away by paramedics. The guest also reported seeing officers question Wood at about 9pm before taking him into custody.
Two other guests recalled seeing a police vehicle and an ambulance outside the complex later that evening. One said he had seen the family during their stay but had witnessed no argument or altercation. Another said the family left the apartment after Wood was taken away. These accounts describe what the guests say they observed; they do not establish what happened inside the property or the identity or condition of the woman taken away.
Wood did not appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday. The Daily Mail attributed his absence to mental health concerns while he was in custody, but the supplied account gives no further detail about those concerns. Cuskelly appeared on his behalf and asked for the matter to return to court on Thursday, when Wood was expected to apply for bail. According to the report, he was to remain at the Maroochydore watchhouse until then.
Wood and Snezana became known as a couple after meeting on The Bachelor Australia. For now, the criminal case rests on allegations, the police charges and the forthcoming court process. The neighbouring guests’ recollections add detail about the emergency response, but none said they witnessed the alleged offences.
Where outlets differ
The two supplied source extracts are duplicates of the same Daily Mail report. There is therefore no difference between outlets to compare, and no independent second account in the material provided.