Former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis avoids jail time for his wife's death – National
Former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis will avoid being imprisoned when his wife Olympian Melissa Hoskins dies.
The 34-year-old Dennis appeared in South Australia’s District Court on Wednesday after pleaded guilty to serious conduct that could have caused harm.
He was sentenced to probation for the sentence known as the “tragic accident”, and the judge said Dennis was safe by speeding up and hitting her wife with a car while Dennis tried to stop him from driving, but he was not responsible for her death.
Hoskins was hit by a pickup truck driven by Dennis near Adelaide, Australia. She was seriously injured and later died in the hospital.
The court was told the couple had debated the kitchen renovation before Dennis left the house and tried to drive away. The court also heard that Hoskins once jumped onto the hood of the car to stop him from leaving, but Dennis continued to travel at a slow speed of about 75 meters while in the car.
Archives – Australia's Rohan Dennis celebrates the gold medal with his wife Melissa Hoskins and his son during the men's elite individual time trial from Northallerton to Harrogate.
Tim Goode/PA Images By Getty Images
Both cyclists were retired at the time. They got married in February 2018 and have two children.
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Dennis was sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days in prison on Wednesday, and was sentenced to two years. The sentence was lowered from two years and two months due to a guilty plea, and he was placed in a bond of good conduct for two years.
His license was also suspended for five years.
“I accept that you have a sense of responsibility for everything that happens, and I accept that you may be different if you take action in other ways,” Judge Ian Press said Wednesday.
Dennis showed little emotion when the news sentenced him.
“In view of your confession, your remorse, you are the sole caregiver for your young child, and in light of all your other personal circumstances and circumstances of the crime, I am satisfied that there is a good reason for the existence of that judgment.”
The press said that while Dennis tried to “lower the argument” by driving, he said it did not justify the behavior of the cyclist.
“You didn’t stop because you wanted to leave, which is a very bad reason not to do that.”
Archives – Melissa Hoskins of Western Australia competed in the 2015 National Track and Field Bike Championships at the 2015 National Track and Field Bike Championships in Melbourne, Australia on January 30, 2015.
Daniel Smith/Getty Images
The crime was sentenced to up to seven years in prison, but attorney Jane Abbey asked her client to be suspended.
The mother of the deceased, Amanda Hoskins, said during the April sentencing that her daughter, Dennis, “and I know you will never intentionally hurt her.”
“I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your decline and needs to be resolved,” she said.
Peter Hoskins is outside the courtroom, and outside the courtroom, the ABC told reporters that Dennis has not apologized to his family, but he expects it to “appear over time”.
“It's time for us to move on, and that's what Melissa expects from us,” he said, adding that it's important for the couple to maintain a “good relationship” with Dennis.
“There are two young children who are trapped in this tragedy…Obviously, we hope to continue to be an integral part of it. [the] Children's lives and their future. ”
Hoskins competed in Australia in London and Rio de Janeiro and competed in the team that won the 2015 championship.
– Documents with the Associated Press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
