Australia - Melissa Hoskins, 32, Olympian cyclist, struck & killed by ute, husband Rohan Dennis arrested and charged - Medindie, SA, 30 Dec 2023

[Trooper]

Wasn't there a DV incident in Spain or somewhere a few years ago?

He certainly got on the wrong side of the Spanish authorities... apart from a report that could have been him chasing his wife up a street , with menace. ( it was an Australian cyclist ) Rohan managed to peeve folks in Spain ( in Girona ) by flouting Corona rules, which required him to remain within a certain radius of his residence, those rules apparently not for Rohan. He was fined a few times , then apprehended and held for a few hours.

 

[Trooper]

Back in Feb., SAPOL asked for time to do a Major Accident Reconstruction in regard to this death of Mrs Dennis, which means SAPOL re create the conditions, and the significance of what happened by replicating the accident. Using physics, engineering, etc to understand exactly when the Amarok accelerated, how long it took to reach the point where the Amarok rammed into her, and at what velocity.. whether this proves Rohan's perspective of the matter or whether it proves SAPOL"s conclusions will be made a bit clearer.

 

[SouthAussie]

He certainly got on the wrong side of the Spanish authorities... apart from a report that could have been him chasing his wife up a street , with menace. ( it was an Australian cyclist ) Rohan managed to peeve folks in Spain ( in Girona ) by flouting Corona rules, which required him to remain within a certain radius of his residence, those rules apparently not for Rohan. He was fined a few times , then apprehended and held for a few hours.

I think it was debunked that Rohan was involved in the Oct 2021 DV incident in Andorra. The perp was 29 years old, and Rohan was 31 at the time.


Rohan Dennis (born 28 May 1990) ...... Link

The identity of the rider has not been revealed, but state broadcaster RTVA reports that he is Australian, while Poble Andorrà reports it is a 29-year-old.

Rider arrested for domestic abuse in Andorra

Woman fled their home after assault on Wednesday

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Trooper]

One of the aspects of re creating a traffic incident, where death occurs, is, the matter of intent. What was intended by the actions of the driver, and what, if any , where the intentions of the victim. It is reasonable to assume that the driver was not recklessly driving and speeding for an extended period of time, all the way back to the scene of the incident, otherwise police would have been notified before it got to the suburban street. That the element of recklessness began at a specific time, at a specific location.

The intent comes into it as to what purpose the increase in speed and recklessness was instigated.

Since this was his own street, where he lived, where his own children lived, a familiar street, the speed limit well known, and that the driver had adhered to that limit ( I think it is always 40kph in Adelaide, but I'm up for correction, 25 near schools and kindy's, etc ) before this incident, otherwise he would have been reported, something must have provoked the driver to hit the pedal. Some catalyst, some factor that resulted in this outcome.

 

[Tweet57]

What an absolute debacle no matter which way you look at this case.
My gut feeling is Rohan Dennis will not serve any jail time for Melissa’s death.
2 reasons….his 2 children.
IMO only

 

[SouthAussie]

As a refresher, these are the South Australian penalties for the charges against Rohan Dennis - unless he somehow pleads down to lesser offences.

I can't find if there are mandatory minimum penalties for the charges, so I am presuming there aren't any mandatory minimums.

Driving Without Due Care
As no penalty is stated for a basic offence, the penalty is a fine of up to $2,500 and 3 demerit points Link

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving
Penalties for this offence are significant and even a first offence can carry a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. If the offence is found to be an aggravated offence it can carry a term of life imprisonment. The penalty for this offence will also involve a licence disqualification of at least 10 years, or possibly longer, if a court orders. Link

Endangering Life
Basic offence: 15 years / disqualification 5 years or more where motor vehicle involved
Aggravated offence: 18 years / disqualification 5 years or more where motor vehicle involved Link

 

[SouthAussie]

I think it is always 40kph in Adelaide, but I'm up for correction, 25 near schools and kindy's, etc

It is definitely 40 kph in his street and most of his suburb. Link

(Not always 40kph ... usually 50kph on suburban streets, 60 kph on 'main' streets unless designated otherwise. But a lot of suburbs have cut the speed limit to 40kph, so we really have to watch the signs when driving because there are fixed speed cameras all over the place)

imo

 

[SouthAussie]

What an absolute debacle no matter which way you look at this case.
My gut feeling is Rohan Dennis will not serve any jail time for Melissa’s death.
2 reasons….his 2 children.
IMO only

What I am hoping is that he will receive prison time and that Melissa's family will care for the children. Her sister and parents seem very loving of Melissa.

I hate to think what his children may be subjected to during their childhoods due to his quick and seemingly uncontrollable bad temper.

 

[Tweet57]

What I am hoping is that he will receive prison time and that Melissa's family will care for the children. Her sister and parents seem very loving of Melissa.

I hate to think what his children may be subjected to during their childhoods due to his quick and seemingly uncontrollable bad temper.

Agree 100%.

 

[Trooper]

What I am hoping is that he will receive prison time and that Melissa's family will care for the children. Her sister and parents seem very loving of Melissa.

I hate to think what his children may be subjected to during their childhoods due to his quick and seemingly uncontrollable bad temper.

Thise are big penalties, SA, but it is a big crime and costs the community millions each year, and affects hundreds of people's mental health. It is , in any degree of perspective , even when no malice is evident, a huge crime.

I genuinely do not believe that him having custody of those children will be any barrier to his imprisonment, considering they have grandparents and aunts , uncles, ect,.. otherwise, the prisons would be empty, most men in prison have children on the outside..

I would think Child Services would be keeping a close and careful eye on that family, at least, I hope so. Surely, they would.

To me,, his only defence is some mechanical problem, of a lethal sort, the sort that has all vehicles recalled to the factory for destruction, a burial of Amaroks, that caused his accelerator to malfunction at the same time his brakes did, while blinding him, and that would be a rare occurrence.

 

[Trooper]

Agree 100%.

(Dennis and a bit of bad temper )

 

[Kemug]

"Causing death by dangerous driving" seems to fit the bill here.

 

[SouthAussie]

To me,, his only defence is some mechanical problem, of a lethal sort, the sort that has all vehicles recalled to the factory for destruction, a burial of Amaroks, that caused his accelerator to malfunction at the same time his brakes did, while blinding him, and that would be a rare occurrence.

And, coincidentally, while his wife was in front of the vehicle ... then on the bonnet, then trying to reach the door handle.

 

[SouthAussie]

(Dennis and a bit of bad temper )

Well, that is a bit of assault right there.

 

[Marg944]

Dennis’s court case today.

“Court documents obtained by the ABC show police will allege Mr Dennis drove "recklessly or at a speed or in a manner which was dangerous to any person".

"And by that culpable negligence, recklessness or other conduct, caused the death of Melissa Marie Dennis," the document states.

Mr Dennis will appear in court again on August 6.”

Rohan Dennis faces court charged with causing death of Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins

Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis has faced court for the first time since being charged with causing the death of his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins, with prosecutors requesting time to complete a major crash reconstruction.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Marg944]

I found that Dennis was originally charged with different offences… somewhere along the line they were changed though. I think that the final charges will be decided in court today.

“Dennis was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life. The first of those charges is a major indictable offence, with a maximum jail term of 15 years.”

Rohan Dennis faces court for the first time - Escape Collective

Prosecutors requested an additional five months to complete a major reconstruction of the crash that claimed Mel Hoskins' life.

escapecollective.com

 

[Trooper]

MSN

This is just for a comparison, this woman is 69, and off to prison for 2 years., reckless, dangerous driving etc.. ... This was in Western Australia, but the law and the penalties are the same, generally, on this matter.. 69 and in ill health, as well, but there it is.. ..

 

[Marg944]

“The final charges against Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis have been set following months of police investigations and negotiations between prosecutors and his defence team over the death of his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.

Mr Dennis will answer to cause death by dangerous driving and aggravated driving without due care charges in the alleged killing of Ms Hoskins.

Jessica Kurtzer, appearing for Mr Dennis, asked for 12 weeks for her client to determine his pleas.

Magistrate John Wells accepted the request and set down October 30 for Mr Dennis to answer the charges.

If found guilty, the champion cyclist faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/olympian-rohan-dennis-faces-x-charges-in-melissa-hoskins-death-case/news-story/c786a172b67f589cc2526baf8090f2ae

 

[Trooper]

“The final charges against Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis have been set following months of police investigations and negotiations between prosecutors and his defence team over the death of his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.

Mr Dennis will answer to cause death by dangerous driving and aggravated driving without due care charges in the alleged killing of Ms Hoskins.

Jessica Kurtzer, appearing for Mr Dennis, asked for 12 weeks for her client to determine his pleas.

Magistrate John Wells accepted the request and set down October 30 for Mr Dennis to answer the charges.

If found guilty, the champion cyclist faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/olympian-rohan-dennis-faces-x-charges-in-melissa-hoskins-death-case/news-story/c786a172b67f589cc2526baf8090f2ae

Seems like SAPOL have found some, or more than some anomalies in Dennis's view of what happened, if the charges are now going ahead. SAPOL would have confidence in getting a conviction ,, no point going ahead if there are no grounds for this position. Some discrepancy ,perhaps, has been picked up in the reconstruction of the incident that will not line up ( possibly cannot line up ) with the event as first told to police. Possibly, some neighbors CCTV tells a different story.

 

[SouthAussie]

This article in The Advertiser this afternoon says that Rohan's lawyer, Jessica Kurtzer, told the court that negotiations were underway. I am guessing that they are trying to reach an agreeable plea deal. And if they succeed, there will be no trial.

It also says that some of the incident was caught on a neighbour's security cameras - and that Melissa jumped onto the car bonnet, tried to grab at a door handle, Rohan continued to drive the 4WD until she fell to the ground, then she was dragged some distance down the street.

He faces a max of 15 years prison plus 10 years licence disqualification for the Death by Dangerous Driving charge.
He faces a max of 12 months jail and 6 months licence disqualification for the Aggravated Driving Without Care charge.

No mention of the prior Endangering Life charge, so I am guessing that was dropped.

He will face court in October, when he is expected to enter pleas.

(paraphrased from this link)

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-sa/rohan-dennis-charged-with-causing-death-by-dangerous-driving-of-wife-melissa-hoskins/news-story/7c07d2735ea5f62c1709ea8e9f815199?amp