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| Rohan Dennis given two-year suspended sentence after car crash that killed wife Melissa Hoskins | Rohan Dennis given two-year suspended sentence after car crash that killed wife Melissa Hoskins |
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| Former world champion cyclist avoids jail after pleading guilty to committing aggravated act likely to cause harm after 2023 incident that killed Olympian Hoskins | Former world champion cyclist avoids jail after pleading guilty to committing aggravated act likely to cause harm after 2023 incident that killed Olympian Hoskins |
| Former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has received a suspended sentence after a car crash led to the death of his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins. | |
| Dennis, 34, appeared at the South Australia district court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm. | Dennis, 34, appeared at the South Australia district court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm. |
| He was arrested after his wife was struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on 30 December 2023. | He was arrested after his wife was struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on 30 December 2023. |
| Hoskins suffered serious injuries and died in Royal Adelaide hospital. | Hoskins suffered serious injuries and died in Royal Adelaide hospital. |
| The court previously heard the couple had argued over kitchen renovations before Dennis left their home and drove away. Hoskins had jumped onto the car bonnet shortly before she died. | The court previously heard the couple had argued over kitchen renovations before Dennis left their home and drove away. Hoskins had jumped onto the car bonnet shortly before she died. |
| Prosecutors have said that Dennis was not being held criminally responsible for his wife’s death. | Prosecutors have said that Dennis was not being held criminally responsible for his wife’s death. |
| Dennis on Wednesday was sentenced to one year and five months in jail – to be suspended for two years. | Dennis on Wednesday was sentenced to one year and five months in jail – to be suspended for two years. |
| The sentence was reduced from two years and two months because of his guilty plea. He was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. His driving licence was also suspended for five years. | The sentence was reduced from two years and two months because of his guilty plea. He was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. His driving licence was also suspended for five years. |
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| The offence carried a maximum sentence of seven years in jail but barrister Jane Abbey KC has asked that her client receive a suspended sentence, which was not opposed by the prosecution. | The offence carried a maximum sentence of seven years in jail but barrister Jane Abbey KC has asked that her client receive a suspended sentence, which was not opposed by the prosecution. |
| During sentencing submissions in April, Amanda Hoskins said her daughter had loved Dennis “and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her”. | During sentencing submissions in April, Amanda Hoskins said her daughter had loved Dennis “and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her”. |
| “I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed,” she said. | “I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed,” she said. |
| Hoskins’ sister Jessica Locke told the court that Dennis had not apologised to the family for his actions and she had “struggled to process” his lack of empathy. “No remorse has been shown,” she said. | Hoskins’ sister Jessica Locke told the court that Dennis had not apologised to the family for his actions and she had “struggled to process” his lack of empathy. “No remorse has been shown,” she said. |
| Her father, Peter Hoskins, said the family’s “greatest fear” was losing access to their grandchildren, now aged six and four. | Her father, Peter Hoskins, said the family’s “greatest fear” was losing access to their grandchildren, now aged six and four. |
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| They were “silent grievers” who were too young to realise the present and future impact of their mother’s loss on their lives, he said. | They were “silent grievers” who were too young to realise the present and future impact of their mother’s loss on their lives, he said. |
| At that hearing, Abbey said her client presented as a “very stoic man”. | At that hearing, Abbey said her client presented as a “very stoic man”. |
| “[But] when the public is not watching ... he is not at all stoic. He is experiencing deep, deep grief.” | “[But] when the public is not watching ... he is not at all stoic. He is experiencing deep, deep grief.” |
| Hoskins competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the track in the team pursuit and was in the squad that won the 2015 world title. | Hoskins competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the track in the team pursuit and was in the squad that won the 2015 world title. |
| Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit on the track at the 2012 Olympics. He won bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics. | Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit on the track at the 2012 Olympics. He won bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics. |
| Hoskins was laid to rest in her home city of Perth and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February 2024. Dennis attended the service with their two children. | Hoskins was laid to rest in her home city of Perth and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February 2024. Dennis attended the service with their two children. |