Shattering video ‘shows tragic final moments’ of Olympics star Rohan Dennis’s wife – after he pleaded guilty to charge over her death
Horrific CCTV footage shows Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis’s wife chasing and grabbing at his ute in the moments before she died, it has been reported.
Dennis, 34, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to answer charges of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of driving without due care.
He was arrested after his wife Melissa Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle in front of their home at Medindie in Adelaide’s inner north on December 30, 2023.
Dennis pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of creating likelihood of harm, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
CCTV vision of the incident shows Hoskins running alongside the ute Dennis was driving after she first jumped on the bonnet of the vehicle, The Australian reported.
The footage then reportedly shows Hoskins reaching for a door handle before she was struck by the Volkswagen ute.
Melissa Hoskins (left) died after being struck by a ute driven by her husband Rohan Dennis (right) outside their Adelaide home in December 2023
Dennis (pictured outside court) has pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge after originally being hit with charges of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of driving without due care
She suffered serious injuries in the crash and paramedics took her to Royal Adelaide Hospital for further treatment, but she could not be saved.
Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, told the court that the defence and prosecutors had agreed to drop the original charges and an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm would instead be laid.
‘What is agreed that will happen today is that there will be a plea to count three … the original charges will be dropped,’ she told Magistrate Justin Wickens.
‘In respect of count three is entered today a charge on the basis of recklessness. So there was no intention of Mr Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with any responsibility for her death.’
Mr Wickens told Dennis he drove when his wife was on or near his vehicle, knowing it was likely to cause harm or recklessly indifferent to whether harm was caused.
It was an aggravated offence because they were in a relationship.
It carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail and a five-year loss of driver’s licence.
CCTV footage of the incident reportedly shows Hoskins (pictured with Dennis) running alongside the vehicle being driven by her husband just before she suffered deadly injuries
Dennis, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was released on continuing bail and committed to the District Court for sentencing on January 24.
Mr Wickens told Dennis he drove when his wife was on or near his vehicle, knowing it was likely to cause harm or recklessly indifferent to whether harm was caused.
Ms 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 in the event.
During his competitive career, Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics.
He became the seventh Australian to wear the yellow jersey as race leader at the Tour de France by winning the opening time trial in 2015, setting a race record for his average speed.
He also won the 2015 Tour Down Under in South Australia.
Ms Hoskins was laid to rest in her home city of Perth and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February. Dennis attended the service with their two children.
On January 2 this year, Melissa’s father Peter, her mother Amanda and sister Jessica released a statement expressing their heartbreak.
‘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.’
