Latest news with #RohanDennis
ABC News
19-05-2025
- ABC News
Rohan Dennis apologises to late wife, Olympian Melissa Hoskins, in letter released by court
A judge has released an apology letter written by Rohan Dennis to his late wife Melissa Hoskins in which he details how he will "live my life with a piece of my heart missing". Former professional cyclist Rohan Craig Dennis, 34, was sentenced in South Australia's District Court last week for the events leading up to the death of his Olympian wife in December 2023. Dennis previously pleaded guilty to an aggravated act likely to cause harm, relating to the events leading up to Ms Hoskins' death, but not causing her death. Last Wednesday, Judge Ian Press sentenced the 34-year-old to a 17-month prison term which he suspended upon him entering a two-year good behaviour bond. Dennis started the letter, which was written on March 20 this year, by thanking Ms Hoskins for "everything". "Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever," he wrote. "You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I. "Not just in pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts." In the letter, Dennis described Ms Hoskins as 'irreplaceable as a mother' to their two young children, and said he was 'so sorry for what happened'. '… As I said to your mum just after this happened, not a second goes by in the day where I don't wish it was me instead,' he wrote. "The only thing that I'm OK with about all of this, is that I'm the one suffering in this situation, and it's not you." Dennis wrote that Ms Hoskins would be proud of their two children, who are both aged under eight years old. "Physically you aren't here but I notice little things that help guide me when I'm lost that I know you have played a part in," he wrote. "The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky all in one. "I know how proud you would be of them both and I'll forever tell them that, even when they're just in bed hugging their bunnies." Dennis ended the letter by saying that Ms Hoskins would "forever be the glue that holds us together". "Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help fill the void of you not being here as best they can," he wrote. "… I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing. It is and always will be yours no matter what. I love you."
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- News.com.au
The story of Rohan Dennis and the tragic death of Melissa Hoskins
It's a tragedy that shocked Australian sport and has left families shattered by grief. On a Saturday night in the leafy Adelaide suburb of Medindie, Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins lay on a street with critical injuries, as neighbours and her husband Rohan Dennis desperately called for help. The beloved mother-of-two had tripped and fallen under the family's Volkswagen Amarok, as fellow Olympian Dennis was behind the wheel and driving away. Ms Hoskins suffered critical injuries and later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital. This week, Dennis received a suspended jail sentence for his actions leading up to that tragic moment, bringing to a close a dramatic 18-month court case. This is the full story from the beginning to the end. December 30, 2023 – 7.45pm A trivial domestic dispute about kitchen renovations was the catalyst for the tragedy. The final blow-up happened about 7.45pm as Dennis was washing the dishes after dinner. 'We were having an argument about, it was quite early on today, about the renovation that we've had in our house,' Dennis told police in the hours immediately after Ms Hoskins' death. 'It's three years ago now, and we're not really happy with some of the stuff and I couldn't quite let it go. 'And then once the kids were down, had dinner, so the tensions boiled over again and we were yelling at each other, and I was like, 'I'm out', as in like, I'm just gonna leave the house.' There was no physical violence in the argument. 'I thought it's just easier, I'll grab the car and … f--king just go,' Mr Dennis said. '(For) 10, 20 minutes. Come back.' Dennis left to try and get away from the exchange, taking the family's Volkswagen Amarok from the garage and driving off into the night. Mere seconds to tragedy But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/h. When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver's side door. As Dennis accelerated away from the intersection, Ms Hoskins held onto the driver's side door handle, the prosecution's factual summary – tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire – states. She tripped and was dragged under the vehicle as Dennis drove off. When Dennis heard a 'thump', he stopped the car and ran to help her. The incident happened within seconds. CCTV footage recorded Ms Hoskins on the bonnet of the car for about six seconds. The time between Ms Hoskins dismounting the vehicle and Dennis closing the driver's side door and accelerating away from her was three seconds, the factual summary states, and the time between Dennis closing the door and Ms Hoskins falling under the wheel only two seconds. Nightmare unfolds on quiet street Dennis said his wife was still alive and struggling to breathe in the aftermath of the accident. 'I rolled her onto her side 'cos she seemed to be choking on something and I thought it might have been blood, and it was,' Dennis said. 'And then they gave – the neighbours they just gave me sort of a, a rug to sort of hold her head. 'I was holding that to try and stop any sort of bleeding. And just talking to her the whole time to try keep her awake.' Dennis told investigators Ms Hoskins was unable to speak and could only nod. 'She was just moaning, like grunting with the pain, and I was saying, 'Can you feel your legs, are you OK' and just make sure she's … like 'just nod', you know,' he said. 'And she was nodding as a yes … so I was thinking … like I knew she'd hit her head but she's probably, really when I pulled her it felt like she potentially broke some ribs or something, and like … this was bloody hoping it's the worst thing. 'And that's why the blood was coming up but … that's why I was thinking maybe that's why she was struggling to talk.' South Australian Police arrested Dennis that weekend and charged him with causing death by dangerous driving. Tale of two champions Dennis is a three-time Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He first achieved fame at the 2012 London Olympics, nabbing a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit on the cycling track. At the Rio Games in 2016, he finished in fifth place in the individual time trial, but perhaps his crowning achievement is his bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics on July 28, 2021. In memorable scenes at the Fuji International Speedway, he clinched the medal with a time of 56:08.09. In 2017, he became engaged to Ms Hoskins, a fellow Olympian. Ms Hoskins competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling. She only just missed out on a medal in London, finishing in fourth spot for the 3000m Team Pursuit category. In Rio, she finished in fifth position for the 4000m Team Pursuit. In 2018, the pair married, and would settle into an elegant home in the inner-north Medindie suburb with their two children. February 24, 2024 – Remembering Melissa Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell Ms Hoskins at a public service in Adelaide on February 24. The memorial was held on what would have been her 33rd birthday. Dennis attended the memorial with his children, but did not speak during the service. He was photographed hugging guests before the ceremony started. March 13, 2024 – First court appearance Dennis fronted court for the first time on March 13 last year. Dressed in a dark navy blue suit, he was met by a scrum of reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court. He declined to say anything as he entered and left the court, standing silently in the dock throughout proceedings before Magistrate Simon Smart. The prosecution asked for seven months to determine the final charges against the Olympian, arguing they needed six months for the major crash reconstruction report to be completed and then another four weeks for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine charges. Leaving the court, Dennis moved quickly through the scrum and into a black car. August 6, 2024 – Charge determination At a charge determination hearing later that year, prosecutors confirmed the police would proceed with charges of causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care. The charges hold a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. December 10, 2024 – Shock guilty plea In a shock development, the original charges are dropped and replaced with a single new charge of an aggravated act creating the likelihood of harm. Dennis pleads guilty to the new charge. He admits to driving a motor vehicle without lawful excuse when Ms Hoskins was on or in close proximity to the vehicle, knowing that act was likely to cause harm to another and being recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused. The clean-cut medallist, dressed in a sharp suit, stood quietly in the dock before magistrate Justin Wickens and said 'guilty' as the charge was read out to him. The maximum penalty for the offence is seven years in jail. Jane Abbey KC, appearing for Dennis, told the court her client was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins' death. 'There was no intention of Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with responsibility for her death,' she said. His case is referred to the higher District Court for sentencing. April 14, 2025 – A Family's Anguish Ms Hoskins' parents Peter and Amanda and her sister Jessica confronted Dennis with their pain and grief in an emotional court hearing more than a year after her death. Peter broke down when he spoke about the impact the event would have on his grandchildren, who he called the family's 'silent grievers'. 'The silent grievers are too young to realise the present and future impact of their mother's loss on their lives,' he said. He said when the police delivered the news of his daughter's death, he was unable to process the devastating development and was overwhelmed with 'disbelief, anger and confusion'. Jessica said she continued to have nightmares about the event and would sometimes wake up in the night and see the faces of the policemen who had broken the terrible news to her. 'It's not something that will ever pass,' she said. 'I will live with this every single day while I'm alive.' She also said the family had not received an apology from Dennis for his actions. 'No remorse has been shown,' she said. Peter said an 'apology and some sort of explanation' from Dennis would help his family with their grieving process. Ms Hoskins' mother Amanda said she believed the event was a 'tragic accident'. 'I know that you would never intentionally hurt her,' she said. 'Emotions would run hot' Ms Abbey, speaking for Dennis, said the argument that sparked the collapse was the 'sort of thing that husbands and wives disagree about all the time'. She said 'emotions would run hot' between the pair a couple of times a year and that they had an agreed strategy in place, in which Dennis would leave the home and spend some time alone to allow both of them to calm down before returning to settle the dispute. She added Dennis was in love with Ms Hoskins at the time of her death. 'He loved her as his best friend, as his partner and as the mother to his children,' she said. May 14, 2025 – The Sentence Dennis avoided jail for his actions. Judge Ian Press sentenced Dennis to 16 months' jail, but suspended the sentence, and placed him on a two-year good behaviour bond. The Olympian's licence was also disqualified for five years. Judge Press stressed Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins' death, but for his actions leading up to the tragic event. 'To describe the consequences of the events of December 30, 2023, as tragic, really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife Melissa,' he said. '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 … 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.' Dennis was punished for continuing to drive while Ms Hoskins was on the bonnet, which Judge Press slammed as 'an inherently risky and dangerous act', and for the act of accelerating at the intersection to get away from Ms Hoskins. Judge Press said he suspended the sentence due to Dennis' guilty plea, his remorse, his personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, and his role as the sole carer of his children. What happens now? It is unclear what Dennis intends to do now. He has never spoken publicly about the case and has not indicated any wish to do so. But he is prohibited from driving, which means he will need help from close friends and family to help him move his children around Adelaide as they go to school and grow up. Ms Hoskins' family, meanwhile, have indicated a clear wish to be present in Dennis' life and to love and support their grandchildren in any way they can. In a courageous and stoic statement outside court after the sentence, Peter and Amanda said their family would now try to 'move on' from the horrific incident. 'It's now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa's expectations of us,' Peter said. 'Clearly we want to continue to be an integral part of their children's lives and their future. 'How we do this in a meaningful way and relevant way will take time. 'With respect to Rohan, as hard as it is going to be, it is important that we also have a well-mannered relationship with him. '(Our grandchildren) deserve this, they have done nothing wrong. We would like to thank everybody for their support of us.' Peter said the family had not sought prison time for Dennis. 'We've got to remember there are two people caught up in this tragedy, and there are young children caught up in this tragedy, who have lost their mum,' he said. 'For them to go and lose their dad, albeit a temporary loss, I don't think that would be ideal at all. 'From the outset, it wasn't something that we were pursuing. The health and wellbeing of (our grandchildren) have been front of mind for us right from the word go. That remains the case.' The heart-wrenching grief the tragedy has opened up will stay in place. 'We miss Melissa terribly,' Peter said, his voice breaking.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The heartbreaking letter Rohan Dennis wrote to late wife Melissa Hoskins before he was sentenced over his role in her death
Rohan Dennis wrote a heartbreaking farewell to his late wife Melissa Hoskins, which has now been revealed after he avoided prison for his role in the car accident that killed her. Former Olympian Rohan Dennis was sentenced to a suspended term of one year, four months, and 28 days, with a two-year good behaviour bond and his driver's licence was also cancelled for five years. Hoskins, a fellow Olympian and world champion cyclist, died from injuries sustained during an argument on December 30, 2023. The pair had been fighting over kitchen renovations when Hoskins climbed onto the bonnet of Dennis' car as he attempted to drive away from their Adelaide home. She fell and was fatally struck. The court accepted that while Dennis had no intention of harming his wife, his decision to drive off made him reckless to her safety. Judge Ian Press told Dennis that 'tragic' did not do justice to the 'grief, anguish and turmoil' his actions had caused. The tragic letter from Dennis sheds light on the emotional aftermath of the New Year's Eve crash Following the sentencing, a personal letter written by Dennis to his late wife was made public. It was composed after Hoskins' death but before he faced court. The letter revealed the depth of his remorse and sorrow. 'Dear Mel,' it began. 'Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever.' 'You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I. Not just in the pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts. 'You are irreplaceable as a mother to Oliver and Madeleine, but I will always raise them in the same way as if you were still here by my side. 'Physically you aren't here, but I notice little things that help guide me when I'm lost that I know you have played a part in. 'The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky, all in one. I know how proud you would be of them both and I'll forever tell them that, even when they're just in bed hugging their bunnies. 'I'm so sorry for what happened. I'm so sorry the children don't have you. I'm sorry our families don't have you post op, as I said to your mum just after this happened. 'Not a second goes by in the day where I don't wish it was me instead and the only thing that I'm ok with is that I'm the one suffering in this situation, and it's not you. I don't think I have to say this because it's so obvious. 'Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help to fill the void of you not being here as best they can. 'We really did create the best village for our family over the years we spent together. 'You will forever be the glue that holds us together. 'I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing. 'It is, and always will be yours, no matter what.' Outside court, Melissa's father Peter spoke publicly for the family. His voice trembling, he said they missed her terribly. Despite their pain, they intended to maintain a civil relationship with Dennis for the sake of the children. 'We want to continue to be an integral part of her children's lives and their future,' he said. 'With respect to Rohan, as hard as it's going to be, it's important that we have a well-mannered relationship with him. The children deserve this.' Peter acknowledged that they had not yet received an apology from Dennis, but believed it would come. He also made clear that the family had not pushed for prison time. 'It would not be ideal at all for the grandchildren to be deprived of both parents,' he said. Hoskins was remembered as a loving mother, an elite athlete, and a vibrant presence. She was laid to rest in Perth, with a public memorial held in Adelaide.
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘I'm so sorry': Rohan Dennis pens apology letter to late wife Melissa Hoskins
A letter of apology penned by Rohan Dennis to his late wife Melissa Hoskins has emerged after Dennis was avoided jail for his role in the car crash that tragically killed her. On Wednesday, Dennis was sentenced to one-year-and-four-months' jail, to be wholly suspended, and was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. His licence was disqualified for five years. Dennis' suspended sentence means he will return home and continue to care for their two children, and brings to a close a dramatic 18-month legal process. A blow-up over a kitchen renovation sparked the tragedy, with Dennis and Ms Hoskins arguing over costs at their leafy Medindie home in Adelaide's inner-north. Dennis left to get away from the exchange and took the family's Volkswagen Amarok from the garage, driving off into the night. But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and in tragic scenes, she jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/hr. When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver's side door. Now in a letter released by Judge Ian Press and obtained by 7News, Dennis apologised to Hoskins and promised to take care of their two children. Rohan Dennis' full letter to Melissa Hoskins 'Dear Mel. Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever. 'You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I. Not just in the pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts. 'You are irreplaceable as a mother to Oliver and Madeleine, but I will always raise them in the same way as if you were still here by my side. 'Physically you aren't here, but I notice little things that help guide me when I'm lost that I know you have played a part in. 'The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky, all in one. I know how proud you would be of them both and I'll forever tell them that, even when they're just in bed hugging their bunnies. 'I'm so sorry for what happened. I'm so sorry the children don't have you. I'm sorry our families don't have you post op, as I said to your mum just after this happened. 'Not a second goes by in the day where I don't wish it was me instead and the only thing that I'm OK with is that I'm the one suffering in this situation, and it's not you. I don't think I have to say this because it's so obvious. 'Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help to fill the void of you not being here as best they can. 'We really did create the best village for our family over the years we spent together. 'You will forever be the glue that holds us together. 'I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing. 'It is, and always will be yours, no matter what. I love you. Rohan.' Hoskins' parents: 'It's time to move on' Ms Hoskins' parents Peter and Amanda said their family would now try to 'move on' from the horrific incident that rocked Australian sport, with the welfare of the couple's two young children 'front of mind'. 'It's now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa's expectations of us,' Peter said. 'Clearly we want to continue to be an integral part of their children's lives and their future. 'How we do this in a meaningful way and relevant way will take time. 'With respect to Rohan, as hard as it is going to be, it is important that we also have a well-mannered relationship with him. '(Our grandchildren) deserve this, they have done nothing wrong. We would like to thank everybody for their support of us.' Dennis has avoided spending any time behind bars for driving recklessly before the death of Ms Hoskins. Judge Press stressed Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins' death, but for his actions leading up to the tragic event. 'To describe the consequences of the events of December 30, 2023, as tragic, really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife Melissa,' Judge Press said. '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 … 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.' Peter said the family had not sought prison time for Dennis. 'We've got to remember there are two people caught up in this tragedy, and there are young children caught up in this tragedy, who have lost their mum,' he said. 'For them to go and lose their dad, albeit a temporary loss, I don't think that would be ideal at all. 'From the outset, it wasn't something that we were pursuing. The health and wellbeing of (our grandchildren) have been front of mind for us right from the word go. That remains the case.' Dennis' suspended sentence means he will return home and continue to care the two children, and brings to a close a dramatic 18-month legal process. A blow-up over a kitchen renovation sparked the tragedy, with Dennis and Ms Hoskins arguing over costs at their leafy Medindie home in Adelaide's inner-north. Dennis left to get away from the exchange and took the family's Volkswagen Amarok from the garage, driving off into the night. But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and in tragic scenes, she jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/hr. When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver's side door. As Dennis accelerated away from the intersection, Ms Hoskins held onto the driver's side door handle, the prosecution's factual summary, tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire, states. She tripped and was dragged under the vehicle as Dennis drove down Avenel Gardens Road. When Dennis heard a 'thump', he stopped the car and ran to help her. Ms Hoskins suffered critical injuries and later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital. The breakdown happened in seconds. CCTV footage recorded Ms Hoskins on the bonnet of the car for about six seconds. The time between Ms Hoskins dismounting the vehicle and Dennis closing the driver's side door and accelerating away from her was three seconds, the factual summary states, and the time between Dennis closing the door and Ms Hoskins falling under the wheel was about two seconds. Dennis was punished for continuing to drive while Ms Hoskins was on the bonnet, which Judge Press slammed as 'an inherently risky and dangerous act', and for the act of accelerating at the intersection to get away from Ms Hoskins. Judge Press said he had suspended the sentence due to Dennis' guilty plea, his remorse, his personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, and his role as the sole carer of his children. Dennis, 34, has no prior criminal history. In a police interview, recorded just hours after the crash, Dennis said his wife was still alive and struggling to breathe in the aftermath of the accident. Ms Hoskins' death sent shockwaves through Australia's sporting community. She competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling, only just missing out on a medal in London after finishing fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category. In Rio, she finished fifth in the 4000m team pursuit. Dennis won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the cycling road race.
7NEWS
16-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Letter written by Rohan Dennis to late wife Melissa Hoskins emerges post-sentencing
A letter penned by Rohan Dennis to his late wife has emerged after he was spared prison time for the crash that killed her. Dennis has received a suspended jail sentence over a road incident that led to the death of his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins. Dennis, 34, appeared in South Australia's District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm. Judge Ian Press told Dennis that describing the consequences of the events of December 30, 2023 as tragic 'really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife'. Now, a letter written by Dennis after his wife's death, but before his sentencing, has emerged. Read the full letter below 'Dear Mel,' the letter begins. 'Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever. 'You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I. Not just in the pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts. 'You are irreplaceable as a mother to Oliver and Madeleine, but I will always raise them in the same way as if you were still here by my side. 'Physically you aren't here, but I notice little things that help guide me when I'm lost that I know you have played a part in. 'The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky, all in one. I know how proud you would be of them both and I'll forever tell them that, even when they're just in bed hugging their bunnies. 'I'm so sorry for what happened. I'm so sorry the children don't have you. I'm sorry our families don't have you post op, as I said to your mum just after this happened. 'Not a second goes by in the day where I don't wish it was me instead and the only thing that I'm ok with is that I'm the one suffering in this situation, and it's not you. I don't think I have to say this because it's so obvious. 'Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help to fill the void of you not being here as best they can. 'We really did create the best village for our family over the years we spent together. 'You will forever be the glue that holds us together. 'I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing. 'It is, and always will be yours, no matter what.' Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide's inner north. She suffered serious injuries and died in Royal Adelaide Hospital. Outside court on Wednesday, Hoskins' father Peter said it was time for the family to move on 'which would be Melissa's expectation of us'. 'We want to continue to be an integral part of her children's lives and their future. How we do this in a meaningful way and a relevant way will take time,' he said. 'With respect to Rohan, as hard as it's going to be, it's important that we have a well-mannered relationship with him. (The children) deserve this. They have done nothing wrong.' His voice breaking, Peter said 'we miss Melissa terribly'. The family had not yet received an apology from Dennis, 'but I'm sure that will come in time', he said.
