Cyclist Rohan Dennis will not be found responsible for the death of his wife – fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins – but could be jailed for up to seven years after pleading guilty to a new charge.
Dennis, 34, had appeared in the 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 Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle in front of their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on 30 December 2023.
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 the magistrate, Justin Wickens.
Abbey said the new charge was “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,” Abbey said.
Wickens told the court that Dennis had been driving 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.
after newsletter promotion
It carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail and a five-year loss of driving licence.
Dennis, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was released on continuing bail and was due to appear in the district court for sentencing on 24 January.
Hoskins suffered serious injuries in the crash and died in the Royal Adelaide hospital.
She had 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.
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.
