Cyclist Rohan Dennis negotiating with prosecutors after allegedly causing wife’s death with car

Date: 2024-10-30

The former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has delayed pleading to charges over the death of his wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins, so negotiations with prosecutors can continue.

Dennis, 34, 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 last year.

The mother of two was rushed to the Royal Adelaide hospital but died that night.

Dennis, who is on bail, appeared briefly in Adelaide magistrates court on Wednesday.

His counsel requested a six-week adjournment so that negotiations with prosecutors could continue.

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The magistrate Justin Wickens agreed to the request and ordered Dennis to reappear on 10 December. Dennis did not comment when he left court.

At a charge determination hearing in August, prosecutors confirmed they would proceed with charges of causing death by dangerous driving and driving without due care.

If found guilty of the first charge, Dennis faces a maximum 15-year prison term and mandatory minimum 10-year licence disqualification.

The second charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a six-month disqualification.

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.

Annette Edmondson, Ashlee Ankudinoff, Amy Cure and Melissa Hoskins (right) won team pursuit gold at the 2015 world championships in Paris. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

During his competitive career, Dennis won two world titles in the road individual time trial, as well as silver in the team track 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. Dennis 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.

In March, prosecutors told Adelaide magistrates court police needed six months to complete a major crash reconstruction and four weeks to get the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.