How the case against Rohan Dennis unfolded after the 'tragic' death of wife Melissa Hoskins

Australia Broadcast Center

15-05-2025

Almost 18 months have passed since 32-year-old Melissa Hoskins was fatally struck by a car, driven by her husband, in Adelaide's inner north.
As news broke of the Olympian's death, questions were raised, with many members of the public theorising about how such an incident could unfold.
It's a tragedy that not only shocked the state — but the world's pro-cycling community.
After a few court hearings and adjournments, a plea deal was reached, and Ms Hoskins's husband Rohan Dennis pleaded guilty to an aggravated act likely to cause harm.
He was initially facing the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving, but that charge was dropped in lieu of his plea.
On Wednesday, as District Court Judge Ian Press sentenced Dennis, he aptly detailed the events of December 30, 2023, saying that describing the incident, which unfolded on the streets of Medindie in Adelaide's inner north, as tragic "really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil" which followed.
"I accept you have a sense of responsibility for all that occurred. I accept you have anguished over what could have been different if you had acted in some other way," he said.
"It is however important at the outset of these remarks to acknowledge that you are not charged with being criminally responsible for all of the events of that night, and in particular, you are not charged with causing the death of your wife."
He said because Dennis was not charged with causing her death, he could not be sentenced for it.
Judge Press suspended a 17-month prison term and imposed a two-year good-behaviour bond.
As is often the case in the legal process, Ms Hoskins's family had their first chance to tell the court about the effects of the incident through victim impact statements, detailing their immeasurable grief.
Her mother, Amanda Hoskins, told the court in April that while she accepts her daughter's death was "a tragic accident and an accident that should have never happened", she condemned Dennis's temper, labelling it his "downfall".
"She didn't deserve this, for all the good she did. She always put her family first," she said.
"Her death is so unfair and tragic."
Ms Hoskins's sister, Jessica Locke, told the court last month neither she, nor her family or friends, had received an apology from Dennis.
"No remorse has been shown, if anything Rohan's actions since that night, appear to suggest that he perceives himself as a victim of the situation," she said.
After the sentence was handed down on Wednesday, Ms Hoskins's father Peter Hoskins said the family still had not received an apology, but expected one would come.
"I'm sure that will come with time, I think it's difficult for everybody," Mr Hoskins said.
He said the family now hoped to foster a "well-mannered" relationship with Dennis and would keep the wellbeing of their daughter's children front of mind.
He spoke through tears, as he described the time since his daughter's death as "difficult".
"We miss Melissa terribly. She was someone really special," he said.
The details of what led to Ms Hoskins death were first revealed in court at a pre-sentence hearing last month, which Judge Press summarised as he sentenced Dennis.
He said the pair had argued about home renovations, and that the pair had previously had an arrangement that Dennis would leave so the duo could calm down during an argument.
Judge Press said Dennis began driving away but Ms Hoskins "jumped onto and then lay on the bonnet" of his car.
"You continued to drive down the lane, albeit slowly, for about 75 metres, which took between about six and 10 seconds," he said.
"It is not possible to be precise, but it appears you were driving at about or just less than 20 kph.
He said Dennis slowed down and Ms Hoskins got off the bonnet and continued walking next to the car, before opening the door while the car was still moving.
Judge Press said Dennis shut the door before accelerating the car in "what appears to be an attempt to drive away from her", and that "unbeknownst" to Dennis, Ms Hoskins had "held onto the car" as he briefly accelerated and she fell from the vehicle.
"There is no allegation that you knew, or even contemplated, the likelihood that your wife was still running next to the car as you continued to drive down the street for only a matter of a second or two," he said.
Judge Press said the incident was captured on CCTV, which has not been released to the public, showing him to immediately stop the car and attend to his wife.
"Whilst there could be no disputing your driving given it was captured on CCTV, I accept you cooperated with police and told them what had happened," he said.
"What you told police is effectively the basis upon which you are now to be sentenced."
It was Ms Hoskins's cycling career that led her to meet Dennis, also a cycling dynamo, and the pair went on to marry at Margaret River, south of Perth, in 2018.
The 32-year-old had been a world champion cyclist, who represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and claimed gold in the women's team pursuit at the 2015 world championships.
AusCycling chief executive officer Marne Fechner said that in the short time before Ms Hoskins retired at age 25, "she had shown the world that she was an athlete of rare prowess".
After news of her death broke, Ms Fechner praised Ms Hoskins for her "elite endurance on the track" and "podium finishes in both team and individual events nationally and internationally".
"Melissa described her team Pursuit Gold Medal at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships as the highlight of her career, but for the rest of us, the highlight was just having her around."
Dennis was also prominent in the cycling world being a two-time world champion and stage winner in the 2015 Tour de France.
He also won medals at both the 2012 and 2020 Olympics, as well as six world championship golds across both track and road riding — and in 2015 he was the overall winner of the 2015 Tour Down Under.
Dennis retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023.
He is now banned from driving for five years and must adhere to the terms of his two-year good behaviour bond, which includes 18-months of supervision by a Correctional Services Officer, as he navigates life as a sole parent to two children under eight years of age.