Adelaide court prepares for victim impact statements over death of Melissa Hoskins as Rohan Dennis faces sentencing submissions
It comes after charges of causing her death were dropped against her fellow world-champion husband when he pleaded guilty to a driving offence.
Police & Courts
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Victim impact statements “are forthcoming” in the case of one of Australia’s top sportsmen who admitted to being “recklessly indifferent” but not responsible for the death of his Olympian wife.
Rohan Craig Dennis appeared in the District Court on Friday and a date for sentencing submissions – where the prosecutor and defence lawyer make submissions to the court about penalty – was set by the court.
Stephanie Moore, for the prosecution, told the court there would be some victim impact statements forthcoming but they still needed to ascertain who would be providing them or if they would be read aloud to the court on the next occasion.
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.
“There was no intention of Mr Dennis to harm his wife,” Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, said last month.
“And this charge does not charge him with the responsibility for her death.”
Dennis, through his guilty plea, admitted to driving a motor vehicle when Melissa Hoskins was on or in close proximity to that vehicle, knowing that act was likely to cause harm to another and being recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused.
The mother-of-two died on December 30 after the family’s dark grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute struck her on Avenel Gardens Rd, Medindie.
Major Crash police had previously charged Mr Dennis, a former world champion cyclist and Olympian, with killing her by dangerous driving.
Dennis stood silently as he listened from the dock during the short court hearing and did not address the media as he left the court.
The Advertiser understands police will allege Ms Hoskins, also a retired professional cyclist and Olympian, jumped onto the car bonnet and then grabbed at a door handle.
Officers will allege 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.
Police say some of the incident was caught on neighbours’ security cameras.
Ms Hoskins, originally from Perth, later died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital from catastrophic injuries.
At the time authorities seized Dennis’ $70,000 vehicle, which he is believed to have bought a year ago.
If found guilty of the previous offence Dennis would have faced a maximum 15-year prison term and mandatory minimum 10-year licence disqualification but his admitted charge now comes with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a five-year licence disqualification.
On Friday, Judge Ian Press adjourned the charge until April for sentencing submissions.
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