Celebrity fitness trainer Sam Wood may plead self-defence if domestic violence charges related to an alleged attack on his wife go to trial, a court has heard.
uncertain
court → plead → trial
But Queensland Police told Maroochydore Magistrates Court on the Sunshine Coast of an earlier 'similar' incident in Victoria which had gone unreported at the time.
asserted
which → tell → time
Wood's solicitor Mathew Cuskelly said his client denied strangling or assaulting his wife at a holiday apartment at Noosa on Saturday night.
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client → say → night
Mr Cuskelly said police would allege Wood’s stepdaughter Eve was being hostile, her mother Snezana approached him, and he pushed her away.
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he → say → her
'My client may indeed be entitled to self defence argument,' Mr Cuskelly said.
uncertain
Cuskelly → say → argument
'These are matters that need to be further explored.'
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that → explore → ?
Sergeant Janette Grigoris told the court of a ‘previous’ incident - ‘similar in nature’ - in Victoria to which police were called, but the victim did not make a complaint.
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victim → tell → complaint
The multimillionaire has been held in the Maroochydore watchhouse on the Sunshine Coast since his arrest at the holiday unit on Saturday.
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multimillionaire → hold → Saturday
Wood was staying in a $3,000-a-night beachfront apartment in the La Mer complex with his wife, their three young children and his 21-year-old stepdaughter.
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Wood → stay → wife
Wood was staying in a $3,000-a-night beachfront apartment in the La Mer complex with his wife Snezana (both pictured), their three young children and his 21-year-old stepdaughter
A police spokesperson said officers attended the Hastings Street address about 9pm on Saturday after receiving reports of alleged domestic violence.
asserted
officers → stay → violence
'Police have charged a 46-year-old Victorian man with domestic violence offences early this morning, 4 October,' the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → charge → offences
'The man has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence) and strangulation in a domestic setting.'
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man → charge → setting
Other holidaymakers staying at La Mer told the Daily Mail they first became aware something was wrong when police and paramedics arrived at the building.
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police → stay → building
One guest said she had not heard any disturbance beforehand but saw a woman let paramedics into the Woods' apartment.
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woman → say → apartment
A woman was later taken away by paramedics.
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woman → take → paramedics
The guest also witnessed Wood being questioned by police before he was driven the 45km south to the Maroochydore watchhouse.
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he → witness → watchhouse
Two more guests told the Daily Mail they saw police and an ambulance outside La Mer 'after dinner in the late evening'.
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they → tell → evening
Wood did not appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, when he was represented by lawyer Mathew Cuskelly (above)
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he → appear → Cuskelly
A man said he had seen the Woods at the apartment during their stay but did not witness any altercations or arguments.
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he → say → altercations
A woman said Wood's youngest child had sleepwalked and left the unit during the family's vacation.
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child → say → vacation
She said the rest of the family packed up and left La Mer after Wood was taken into custody.
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Wood → say → custody
Wood did not appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, when he was represented by Brisbane lawyer and private investigator Mathew Cuskelly.
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he → appear → Cuskelly
Mr Cuskelly said Wood intended to defend the charges and was in good spirits but was concerned for his family and eager to return to Victoria.
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Wood → say → Victoria
Wood and his 45-year-old wife, who met on the third season of The Bachelor in 2015, publicly addressed the domestic violence allegations on Monday morning.
'This is a difficult time for all of us, we are working through this as a family and are thoroughly co-operating with the authorities,' each said on their respective Instagram accounts.
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each → meet → accounts
Wood founded fitness and training business 28 by Sam Wood, which he sold for $71million to DBG Health in 2022 while remaining the face of the online platform under its new owner.
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he → found → owner
Wood's stepdaughter Eve posted a video from the family's Noosa getaway (above) to social media on Saturday, just hours before he was arrested and charged
DBG Health quickly distanced itself from Wood on Monday, stating it had 'zero tolerance' for domestic violence.
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it → post → violence
'While the matter is under investigation and before the court, Sam Wood is on indefinite leave from his duties,' a spokesperson said.
'
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spokesperson → say → duties
Our thoughts are with the family and anyone in the community affected by domestic violence.
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thoughts → affect → violence
Mark Watkins, 28 Group's Chief Operating Officer, will be leading the business in Sam Wood's absence.
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Watkins → lead → absence
On Tuesday, Wood was sacked by the company.
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Wood → sack → company
'Yesterday, DBG Health announced Mr Wood had been placed on indefinite leave,' a statement read.
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statement → announce → leave
'As a result of further considerations, DBG Health has now terminated all arrangements.
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Health → terminate → arrangements
In addition to the fitness empire parting ways with Wood, other businesses and social media identities are following suit.
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businesses → part → suit
Wood was staying in a $3,000-a-night beachfront apartment in the La Mer complex (above) with his wife, their three young children and his her 21-year-old stepdaughter
Wood (above) and his 45-year-old wife, who met on the third season of The Bachelor in 2015, publicly addressed the domestic violence allegations on Monday morning
Pre-packaged meal company Foxes Den cut ties with Wood on Monday after having worked with him for the past six years.
asserted
Den → stay → years
Celebrity trainer Tiffiny Hall, who had strong links to 28 by Sam Wood, also confirmed she was no longer affiliated with the brand.
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she → have → brand
Wood remains the owner of The Woodshed gym in Melbourne.
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Wood → remain → Melbourne
The entrepreneur married single mother Snezana Markoski in an outdoor ceremony in Byron Bay on the NSW north coast in 2018.
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entrepreneur → marry → 2018
They have three young daughters and Wood is stepfather to Eve, his wife's daughter from a previous relationship.
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Wood → have → relationship
Eve posted a video from the family's Noosa getaway to social media on Saturday, just hours before her stepfather was arrested and charged.
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stepfather → post → Saturday
The footage was filmed by Eve's mother on Friday, as the pair appeared to enjoy a day out.
'It is a beautiful sunny day in Noosa,' Eve wrote.
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Eve → film → Noosa
…and 5 more, not listed.
The Aporia
