Unanswered questions about Melissa Hoskins’ death and arrest of her husband Rohan Dennis

Mystery surrounds the death of an Australian sporting star and the arrest of her world champion husband in an incident that has shocked the nation.

Mystery surrounds the death of an Australian sporting star and the arrest of her world champion husband in an incident that has shocked the nation.

Olympian and mother-of-two Melissa Hoskins, 32, died on Saturday night after the family’s grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok ute allegedly struck her on Avenel Gardens Rd, Medindie.

She was immediately rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries but would later die.

Major Crash police quickly charged her husband, former world champion cyclist and Olympian Rohan Dennis, 33, with killing her.

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins from their social media accounts.

He was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, driving without due care and endangering life over the crash and was bailed to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.

Harrowing details emerged of the final moments before the tragic death, however many questions remain.

What happened in the lead up?

The Advertiser understands police will allege Hoskins jumped onto the bonnet of the family’s grey 2022 Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute and then grabbed at a door handle.

Officers will allege Dennis continued to drive the 4WD until she fell to the ground.

The incident happened about 120 metres and around a corner from the couple’s back entrance to their home.

However, what happened in the lead-up to the tragic event and what led the pair to the road is unknown.

Were there any witnesses?

In the hours following the incident, neighbours at the scene told how a teenage pair, who lived near the crash scene, frantically tried to render first aid before paramedics arrived just before 8.30pm on Saturday.

Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins. Photos by Miguel MEDINA and Brenton Edwards.

However, other neighbours have said a couple in their mid 50s emerged from a nearby home and were at the scene providing aid.

It is unclear if anyone saw what unfolded and who the first on the scene were.

No witnesses have come forward and neighbours have been tight-lipped about the incident.

A married couple who live on the street said they saw a ute being towed from the T-junction joining the two thoroughfares of Avenel Garden Rd.

They said they both worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and were trained to give first aid.

“None of the neighbours asked us for help, so it must have been very quiet,” the woman said.

“The first I heard about it was when I walked out around 10pm and saw a police car in the driveway, but there were no sirens or anything like that.”

Was the incident captured on camera?

The Advertiser understands some of the incident was caught on neighbours’ security cameras and focus quickly turned to what nearby CCTV might have captured.

Cameras positioned outside of homes on Avenel Gardens Rd with one in particular of interest.

Neighbours have not responded to questions about their home surveillance and what might be captured on home cameras

Australian Cyclist Rohan Dennis is seen leaving his Medindie house today, in Adelaide. Picture: NCA Newswire/Brett Hartwig

Rohan Dennis pictured with his wife, Melissa Hoskins in a post to Instagram dated December 25, 2023.

What has Rohan Dennis said?

Rohan Dennis has remained silent in his appearances this week, spotted leaving his home and arriving at his parents’ house.

The cycling star has not answered questions from reporters about what had happened on Saturday night or how he was feeling.

However, two friends of Dennis emerged from his home on Tuesday – a Spanish and a fellow Aussie – to make an impassioned plea on his behalf.

“They need privacy and they need to grieve,” the Spanish friend said.

“This is a terrible time for us.”

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins.

What are the conditions of his bail?

Dennis was bailed to face Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.

He has not entered any pleas to his charges and his bail conditions are unknown.

However, he has been spotted between his Medindie home and his parents house in Hazelwood Park with the couple’s young children.

Hoskin’s funeral will be held in Perth, her hometown, with a memorial service in Adelaide after the Tour Down Under. The Australian cycling community will pay its respects to Hoskins on Sunday before the elite road races are held at the Road Nationals in Ballarat.