Thank you for leading me in the right direction, I missed the bit about District Court in the article. Hence, I’ve found the listing…..
Australia - Melissa Hoskins, 32, Olympian cyclist, struck & killed by ute, husband Rohan Dennis arrested and charged - Medindie, SA, 30 Dec 2023
- Thread starter ifindedout
- Start date
Mother of Melissa Hoskins says Olympian's death was a 'tragic accident'
The mother of former Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins has told an Adelaide court she accepts her daughter's death was a "tragic accident".
www.abc.net.au
The mother of former Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins has told an Adelaide court she accepts her daughter's death was a "tragic accident".
Ms Hoskins died when she was struck by a car driven by her husband and former professional cyclist, Rohan Dennis, in December 2023.
Her mother, Amanda Hoskins, told South Australia's District Court she knew Dennis would never intentionally hurt her daughter.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and an aggravated charge of driving without due care.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court previously heard, after 12 months of negotiations, prosecutors accepted the plea to the new charge because Dennis was reckless, and did not intend to kill his wife.
( speechless )
Certainly cannot be discounted as a motivation.. .... this segment of the proceedings is Victim Statements, so there will be more to come..
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Exactly what popped into my head too.
The father of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins has told a court he doesn’t think he can forgive Rohan Dennis after the death of his daughter.
Rohan Craig Dennis, 44, was confronted by three members of Ms Hoskins’ family in the District Court on Monday, hearing he has shown “no remorse” for his offending.Ms Hoskins’ father, Peter Hoskins told the court his daughter loved her life as an elite athlete and chasing dreams.
“Put simply, Melissa just loved living,” he said.
“Melissa did not deserve to die and she certainly did not deserve the death that she suffered,” he said.
“Can I forgive you for the abandonment of your responsibilities as a husband and father on December 30?
“I doubt I can do that … given what you have taken from me and my family.”
Ms Hoskins’ sister, Jessica Locke told the court she still has nightmares about the night she was told of her sister’s death by police.
She said Dennis had shown no remorse for the death of her “best friend”.
“Neither myself or my family or friends have received any kind of apology from Rohan for his actions on that night that resulted in my sister, Melissa’s death,” she said.
“If anything, Rohan’s actions since that night … suggest that he perceived himself as a victim of the situation.
“That he behave like this overwhelms me with sadness and anger.”
Dennis earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated creating likelihood of harm, relating to the death of his wife, 32-year-old Melissa Hoskins.
The charges of causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated driving without due care were dropped as a result.
Ms Hoskins’ mother, Amanda Hoskins told the court her daughter’s death had devastated her and her family.
“She didn’t deserve this for all the things she did, she always put her family first,” she said.
“It’s more than 16 months and as a mother I grieve for her everyday.”
Ms Hoskins said she knows Dennis would never intentionally hurt her daughter.
“I believe this was a tragic accident and an accident that should never have happened,” she said.
“Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed.”
The mother-of-two died on December 30, 2023 after the family’s dark grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute struck her on Avenel Gardens Rd, Medindie.Tali Costi, prosecuting, told the court Dennis’ offending related to the conduct where he initially accelerated in circumstances in which he knew Ms Hoskins was very close to the car.
“It is the continuing act driving down Medindie Lane when Ms Dennis was positioned on the bonnet of the vehicle to the point when she had come off the bonnet but was standing very close to the vehicle,”
The court heard Dennis estimated he was travelling at about 20km/h, with CCTV footage showing Ms Hoskins was on the bonnet for approximately six seconds.
It is not alleged Dennis caused her death.
Dennis, a dual world champion who retired from his 16-year cycling career last year, continued to drive the 4WD until she fell to the ground.
Police will allege the victim was dragged some distance along the leafy street, which is located in one of the state’s most expensive suburbs in Adelaide’s inner north.
Ms Hoskins, originally from Perth, later died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital from catastrophic injuries.
I was very curious about what the Dad would say.... not many marriages survive the loss of a child under extreme circumstances... I did not expect him to be as .. well.. as forgiving as her mother appears to be,. maybe both are operating under different perspectives of terrible grief....
'''
Tali Costi, prosecuting, told the court Dennis’ offending related to the conduct where he initially accelerated in circumstances in which he knew Ms Hoskins was very close to the car.
“It is the continuing act driving down Medindie Lane when Ms Dennis was positioned on the bonnet of the vehicle to the point when she had come off the bonnet but was standing very close to the vehicle,”
(again, speechless )
'''
Tali Costi, prosecuting, told the court Dennis’ offending related to the conduct where he initially accelerated in circumstances in which he knew Ms Hoskins was very close to the car.
“It is the continuing act driving down Medindie Lane when Ms Dennis was positioned on the bonnet of the vehicle to the point when she had come off the bonnet but was standing very close to the vehicle,”
(again, speechless )
Continuing on….
(I am shocked the prosecution didn’t oppose a suspended sentence)
Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, told the court her client constantly replayed the day of the offending and recognised his responsibility.
Ms Abbey told the court on the day of the offending Dennis and Ms Hoskins had a disagreement about how further work needed to be done on cupboards in their new kitchen, and Dennis was disappointed more money would have to be spent.
“These two people were two people who had reached the top of their sport at a world level,” she said.
“It’s perhaps is not surprising that neither of them was likely, in the heat of the moment, to concede.”
Ms Abbey said the couple had an agreed strategy where Dennis would remove himself from the situation when “emotions ran hot”.
However, she said Ms Hoskins had not wanted Dennis to leave on this occasion but Dennis was “following his rule”.
“It all happened very, very quickly,” she said.
“He put his foot down … And there’s about a second, just over, in which it can be seen that Mrs Dennis ran alongside the car.
“He describes to police hearing a noise. That noise it would seem was her jumping onto the car, or attempting to jump onto the car, and one can see that shortly after that noise, and allowing for some response time, the brake lights show.”
Ms Abbey said Dennis had not realised Ms Hoskins was on, or near the car, until coming out of the vehicle and seeing her on the road.
She pushed for a suspended sentence for Dennis, which was not opposed by prosecution, due to the fact he was the sole carer of their children and there was no intent behind his actions.
Judge Ian Press will sentence Dennis next month.
(I am shocked the prosecution didn’t oppose a suspended sentence)
Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, told the court her client constantly replayed the day of the offending and recognised his responsibility.
Ms Abbey told the court on the day of the offending Dennis and Ms Hoskins had a disagreement about how further work needed to be done on cupboards in their new kitchen, and Dennis was disappointed more money would have to be spent.
“These two people were two people who had reached the top of their sport at a world level,” she said.
“It’s perhaps is not surprising that neither of them was likely, in the heat of the moment, to concede.”
Ms Abbey said the couple had an agreed strategy where Dennis would remove himself from the situation when “emotions ran hot”.
However, she said Ms Hoskins had not wanted Dennis to leave on this occasion but Dennis was “following his rule”.
“It all happened very, very quickly,” she said.
“He put his foot down … And there’s about a second, just over, in which it can be seen that Mrs Dennis ran alongside the car.
“He describes to police hearing a noise. That noise it would seem was her jumping onto the car, or attempting to jump onto the car, and one can see that shortly after that noise, and allowing for some response time, the brake lights show.”
Ms Abbey said Dennis had not realised Ms Hoskins was on, or near the car, until coming out of the vehicle and seeing her on the road.
She pushed for a suspended sentence for Dennis, which was not opposed by prosecution, due to the fact he was the sole carer of their children and there was no intent behind his actions.
Judge Ian Press will sentence Dennis next month.
Of course only Rohan and Melissa know what the argument , if there was one, was about. The one who is left standing has full control over whatever tale they wish to broadcast...
Rbm.
Good lord that is sickening.
Graphic post :
He must have felt some sort of bump or 'lift' of the tires, as she was either run over or stuck beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle ??
Omo.
Rbm.
Good lord that is sickening.
Graphic post :
He must have felt some sort of bump or 'lift' of the tires, as she was either run over or stuck beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle ??
Omo.
He must have.. a grown woman is a definite lump in the road, his Amarok would have tilted up and then down.. Who is kidding whom here?? and a grown woman stuck under the wheels is translated into the steering wheel, ...
The bit I fail to understand, which may be a part of me being dense, is.. if she leapt up onto the bonnet... which is the covering of the engine in front of the windscreens, right? She did not leap up into the tray of the truck , that bit that is the boot, except in a pickup, a ute, it's an open tray behind the back passenger seats window.. ( he would have seen her in the rear vision mirrror , , though ) ... how come he didn't see her? Either he was driving with his feet on the steeriing wheel while laying down on the front seat, or he saw her on the bonnet.. or driving with his eyes blindfolded... it does not scan, to me.
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January, 2025
“Prior to entering the courtroom, Dennis had appeared in good spirits, smiling and joking with his support group.”
escapecollective.com
No wonder the family knows that Dennis shows no remorse!
14th April, 2025
“Rohan Craig Dennis, 44, was confronted by three members of Ms Hoskins’ family in the District Court on Monday, hearing he has shown “no remorse” for his offending.”
“Prior to entering the courtroom, Dennis had appeared in good spirits, smiling and joking with his support group.”
Mere metres from TDU HQ, Rohan Dennis's court case rumbles on
The two-time world time trial champion will next appear in court on April 14.
escapecollective.com
No wonder the family knows that Dennis shows no remorse!
14th April, 2025
“Rohan Craig Dennis, 44, was confronted by three members of Ms Hoskins’ family in the District Court on Monday, hearing he has shown “no remorse” for his offending.”
Looking over old news reports from January 2024, you can see what may be dents from when Melissa jumped on the bonnet…..
News 14th April, 2025
“Prosecutor Tali Costi told the court while Dennis was not criminally responsible for Melissa's death, he either did not know or was "reckless to the fact she was holding onto the vehicle".
"It is the continuing act of driving down Medindie Lane, when Mrs Dennis was positioned on the bonnet of the vehicle, to the point when she had come off the bonnet but was standing very close to the vehicle and the act of accelerating," she said.
"And that continuing combined conduct is the circumstances that created the acts likely to cause harm, the circumstances that were dangerous to Mrs Dennis, but there is no criminal conduct in the prosecution charge and there's no criminal conduct with respect to those … two seconds when Mrs Dennis is holding onto the vehicle.”
Snipped by me
"At the same time as Mrs Dennis is reaching for the door handle the first time, Mr Dennis can be seen getting that door closed again thinking, 'This is confronting and what I know is I have to leave'," she said.
"He thought that by putting his foot down, he was removing danger. That's of course, in the light of day, something that he realises was not a full picture and not a full thought.
"He put his foot down … and there's about a second, just over, in which it can be seen that Mrs Dennis ran alongside the car."
“Ms Abbey told the court Dennis had told police he heard a noise.
"That noise it would seem was her jumping onto the car, or attempting to jump onto the car, and one can see that shortly after that noise, and allowing for some response time, the brake lights show," she said.
Ms Abbey said Mr Dennis had not realised she was on, or near the car, until coming out of the vehicle and seeing his wife "on the road".
"But certainly, in Mr Dennis's mind he did not know that she was still near the car, or indeed, on it," she said.“
www.abc.net.au
I must admit I totally cannot follow what happened!
News 14th April, 2025
“Prosecutor Tali Costi told the court while Dennis was not criminally responsible for Melissa's death, he either did not know or was "reckless to the fact she was holding onto the vehicle".
"It is the continuing act of driving down Medindie Lane, when Mrs Dennis was positioned on the bonnet of the vehicle, to the point when she had come off the bonnet but was standing very close to the vehicle and the act of accelerating," she said.
"And that continuing combined conduct is the circumstances that created the acts likely to cause harm, the circumstances that were dangerous to Mrs Dennis, but there is no criminal conduct in the prosecution charge and there's no criminal conduct with respect to those … two seconds when Mrs Dennis is holding onto the vehicle.”
Snipped by me
"At the same time as Mrs Dennis is reaching for the door handle the first time, Mr Dennis can be seen getting that door closed again thinking, 'This is confronting and what I know is I have to leave'," she said.
"He thought that by putting his foot down, he was removing danger. That's of course, in the light of day, something that he realises was not a full picture and not a full thought.
"He put his foot down … and there's about a second, just over, in which it can be seen that Mrs Dennis ran alongside the car."
“Ms Abbey told the court Dennis had told police he heard a noise.
"That noise it would seem was her jumping onto the car, or attempting to jump onto the car, and one can see that shortly after that noise, and allowing for some response time, the brake lights show," she said.
Ms Abbey said Mr Dennis had not realised she was on, or near the car, until coming out of the vehicle and seeing his wife "on the road".
"But certainly, in Mr Dennis's mind he did not know that she was still near the car, or indeed, on it," she said.“
Mother of Melissa Hoskins says Olympian's death was a 'tragic accident'
The mother of former Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins has told an Adelaide court she accepts her daughter's death was a "tragic accident".
www.abc.net.au
I must admit I totally cannot follow what happened!
Kemug was spot on!!
"I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed," she said.
www.9news.com.au
"I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed," she said.
Olympic cyclist has shown 'no remorse' for wife's accidental death, her family says
Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has shown no remorse and "perceives himself as a victim" despite him accidenta...
www.9news.com.au
Melissa’s father said today in court….
“Our greatest fear is losing access to (our grandchildren, now aged six and four)."
Olympic cyclist has shown 'no remorse' for wife's accidental death, her family says
Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has shown no remorse and "perceives himself as a victim" despite him accidenta...
www.9news.com.au
“Judge Ian Press will sentence Dennis on May 14.”
www.9news.com.au
I hope there is a role for the Sherriff’s Officers at this matter!
Olympic cyclist has shown 'no remorse' for wife's accidental death, her family says
Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has shown no remorse and "perceives himself as a victim" despite him accidenta...
www.9news.com.au
I hope there is a role for the Sherriff’s Officers at this matter!
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And after all that we still don't know where the children were during all of this. I only hope they were having a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's place.
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I think we talked about this further back. He is good friends with or supported by a local politician. IIRC
ETA:
I found the info I posted earlier ... he was the coach of a local politician for a long time. One who was speaking highly of Rohan in parliament in 2022.
Mr COWDREY (Member of Parliament for Colton): "Obviously, I may be slightly biased in my representation of his skills and ability given that he was my coach for a long time through my career, but it is not just Commonwealth Games medals, Paralympic Games gold medals and Olympic Games gold medals that he has contributed to the Australian sporting landscape through swimming. It might surprise a couple of people in this house to know that Rohan Dennis started as a swimmer—we used to drive each other to training, ...."
Hansard Daily: House of Assembly - Thursday, September 8 2022
View the Official House of Assembly Hansard Transcript for Thursday, September 8 2022.
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