Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death, but the charge was dropped. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
In short:
Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis reaches plea deal in crash that killed his Olympic wife Melissa Hoskins.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of careless driving, while Dennis pleaded guilty to the aggravated charge of causing likelihood of injury.
What’s next?
The offence carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a five-year driver’s licence suspension and Dennis has been sent to the Magistrates Court for sentencing.
Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty to the crash that killed his Olympic wife Melissa Hoskins last December.
On Tuesday, Dennis pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of causing injury in relation to the crash outside the couple’s home in Medindi, Adelaide’s inner north.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of careless driving.
On December 30, mother of two Hoskins was hit by a car driven by Dennis outside her home.
Melissa Hoskins died in December 2023. (Facebook)
Today, Adelaide Magistrates Court heard prosecutors accepted the defence to the new charge because Dennis’ actions were reckless and he had no intention to murder his wife.
After nearly 12 months of negotiations, prosecutors accepted that Dennis was not responsible for the 32-year-old’s death.
Jane Abbey KC, a leading barrister representing Dennis, told the court the new charges were based on reckless conduct.
She told the court: “Mr Dennis had no intention of harming his wife – this charge does not mean he is responsible for her death.
The aggravated charge of creating likelihood of injury carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a five-year driver’s license suspension.
After nearly 12 months of negotiations, prosecutors admitted Dennis was not responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Dennis has been taken to the District Court for sentencing.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Avenel Gardens Road just after 8pm on the night Ms Hoskins was hit by the car.
Police said the next morning that Ms Hoskins was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries and “died after spending the night in hospital.
Her death sparked an outpouring of grief from the cycling community, including from her former Olympic teammate Amy Kuhl, who wrote on social media: “You will be missed sis.”
Ms Hoskins’ funeral was held in Fremantle in January. (ABC News: Kenith Png)
The world champion cyclist was laid to rest at a funeral in her hometown of Fremantle, Perth, in January.
The following month, her family and former teammates gathered in Adelaide for a public memorial service, attended by Dennis, on what would have been her 33rd birthday.
Ms Hoskins is a two-time Olympian and a renowned road and track cyclist, having represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
Melissa Hoskins poses for a photo at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne in 2012. (AAP Photo: Joe Castro)
She won gold in the women’s team pursuit at the 2015 World Championships.
Ms Hoskins retired from professional cycling two years later, announcing the decision and her engagement to Dennis in a 2017 interview with website Cyclingnews.