Fresh twist after Olympian’s wife killed
In a fresh twist, Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has asked for a further delay to answer the shocking allegations he killed his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
Mr Dennis, appearing at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, was due to enter his pleas to the charges of causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated driving without due care.
Police allege Mr Dennis struck Ms Hoskins with a dark grey Volkswagen Amarok about 8pm outside the couple’s Medindie home in Adelaide’s inner north on December 30, 2023.
Defence lawyer Jessica Kurtzer, appearing for Mr Dennis before magistrate Justin Wickens on Wednesday, asked for another six weeks for her client to determine his pleas, telling the court negotiations were ongoing with the prosecution.
At an earlier hearing in August, Ms Kurtzer asked for three months to determine pleas, which the court granted.
Negotiations mean Mr Dennis could plead to altered charges at a new answer charge hearing, booked for December 10.
If he pleads guilty to the charge of cause death by dangerous driving, Mr Dennis, who shares two children with Ms Hoskins, faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Ms Hoskins, 32, suffered serious injuries in the crash and paramedics took her to Royal Adelaide Hospital for further treatment. She died at the hospital.
Police arrested and charged Mr Dennis that weekend.
Mr Dennis’s change of fortune has been swift and shocking.
Just three years ago, he stood on a podium in Tokyo and celebrated his place in sporting history as an individual Olympic medallist.
He first achieved fame at the 2012 London Olympics, nabbing a silver medal in the 4000m team pursuit on the cycling track.
At Brazil 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.
Speaking at the time, Mr Dennis said he had done “everything possible” to take home the gold.
“Obviously would’ve been great to get the gold but I’ve done everything possible to be in this position and I was just beaten by two better guys on the day, so can be proud of everything myself and the team have achieved,” he said.
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 fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category.
In Rio, she finished fifth position in the 4000m team pursuit.
In 2018, the pair married, and would settle into a leafy home in Adelaide’s up-market Medindie with their two children.
In 2022, Mr Dennis won a gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the UK.
In 2023, he retired from cycling, thanking Ms Hoskins for her support in a heartfelt post to social media.
“Thank you Melissa Dennis for supporting me throughout my entire professional career, all while raising two of the best kids I could ever ask for,” he said.
Melissa’s father Peter, mother Amanda and sister Jessica released a statement on January 2 expressing their heartache at her death.
“Words cannot convey our grief, sadness and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s passing,” Mr Hoskins wrote on behalf of the family.
“Myself, Amanda, Jess and families are utterly devastated and still struggling to process what has happened.
“Not only have we lost a daughter and sister, her children have lost their mum, a freewheeling spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.”
Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the world-class cyclist at a public service in Adelaide on February 24.
