‘I’m so sorry’: Rohan Dennis pens apology letter to late wife Melissa Hoskins
Rohan Dennis’s heartwrenching apology letter to his late wife has emerged after the Olympic cyclist was sentenced for his role in her death.
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A letter of apology penned by Rohan Dennis to his late wife Melissa Hoskins has emerged after Dennis was avoided jail for his role in the car crash that tragically killed her.
On Wednesday, Dennis was sentenced to one-year-and-four-months’ jail, to be wholly suspended, and was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond. His licence was disqualified for five years.
Dennis’ suspended sentence means he will return home and continue to care for their two children, and brings to a close a dramatic 18-month legal process.
A blow-up over a kitchen renovation sparked the tragedy, with Dennis and Ms Hoskins arguing over costs at their leafy Medindie home in Adelaide’s inner-north.
Dennis left to get away from the exchange and took the family’s Volkswagen Amarok from the garage, driving off into the night.
But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and in tragic scenes, she jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/hr.
When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver’s side door.
Now in a letter released by Judge Ian Press and obtained by 7News, Dennis apologised to Hoskins and promised to take care of their two children.
Rohan Dennis’ full letter to Melissa Hoskins
“Dear Mel. Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever.
“You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I. Not just in the pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts.
“You are irreplaceable as a mother to Oliver and Madeleine, but I will always raise them in the same way as if you were still here by my side.
“Physically you aren’t here, but I notice little things that help guide me when I’m lost that I know you have played a part in.
“The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky, all in one. I know how proud you would be of them both and I’ll forever tell them that, even when they’re just in bed hugging their bunnies.
“I’m so sorry for what happened. I’m so sorry the children don’t have you. I’m sorry our families don’t have you post op, as I said to your mum just after this happened.
“Not a second goes by in the day where I don’t wish it was me instead and the only thing that I’m OK with is that I’m the one suffering in this situation, and it’s not you. I don’t think I have to say this because it’s so obvious.
“Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help to fill the void of you not being here as best they can.
“We really did create the best village for our family over the years we spent together.
“You will forever be the glue that holds us together.
“I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing.
“It is, and always will be yours, no matter what. I love you. Rohan.”
Hoskins’ parents: ‘It’s time to move on’
Ms Hoskins’ parents Peter and Amanda said their family would now try to “move on” from the horrific incident that rocked Australian sport, with the welfare of the couple’s two young children “front of mind”.
“It’s now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa’s expectations of us,” Peter said.
“Clearly we want to continue to be an integral part of their children’s lives and their future.
“How we do this in a meaningful way and relevant way will take time.
“With respect to Rohan, as hard as it is going to be, it is important that we also have a well-mannered relationship with him.
“(Our grandchildren) deserve this, they have done nothing wrong. We would like to thank everybody for their support of us.”
Dennis has avoided spending any time behind bars for driving recklessly before the death of Ms Hoskins.
Judge Press stressed Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death, but for his actions leading up to the tragic event.
“To describe the consequences of the events of December 30, 2023, as tragic, really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife Melissa,” Judge Press said.
“I accept you have a sense of responsibility for all that occurred. I accept you have anguished over what could have been different if you had acted in some other way … you are not charged with being criminally responsible for all of the events of that night and in particular you are not charged with causing the death of your wife.”
Peter said the family had not sought prison time for Dennis.
“We’ve got to remember there are two people caught up in this tragedy, and there are young children caught up in this tragedy, who have lost their mum,” he said.
“For them to go and lose their dad, albeit a temporary loss, I don’t think that would be ideal at all.
“From the outset, it wasn’t something that we were pursuing. The health and wellbeing of (our grandchildren) have been front of mind for us right from the word go. That remains the case.”
Dennis’ suspended sentence means he will return home and continue to care the two children, and brings to a close a dramatic 18-month legal process.
A blow-up over a kitchen renovation sparked the tragedy, with Dennis and Ms Hoskins arguing over costs at their leafy Medindie home in Adelaide’s inner-north.
Dennis left to get away from the exchange and took the family’s Volkswagen Amarok from the garage, driving off into the night.
But Ms Hoskins did not want him to leave and in tragic scenes, she jumped onto the bonnet of the car as Dennis drove down Medindie Lane, behind their home, going at about 20km/hr.
When Dennis pulled into Avenel Gardens Road, Ms Hoskins dismounted the bonnet and grabbed at the driver’s side door.
As Dennis accelerated away from the intersection, Ms Hoskins held onto the driver’s side door handle, the prosecution’s factual summary, tendered to the court and seen by NewsWire, states.
She tripped and was dragged under the vehicle as Dennis drove down Avenel Gardens Road.
When Dennis heard a “thump”, he stopped the car and ran to help her.
Ms Hoskins suffered critical injuries and later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The breakdown happened in seconds.
CCTV footage recorded Ms Hoskins on the bonnet of the car for about six seconds.
The time between Ms Hoskins dismounting the vehicle and Dennis closing the driver’s side door and accelerating away from her was three seconds, the factual summary states, and the time between Dennis closing the door and Ms Hoskins falling under the wheel was about two seconds.
Dennis was punished for continuing to drive while Ms Hoskins was on the bonnet, which Judge Press slammed as “an inherently risky and dangerous act”, and for the act of accelerating at the intersection to get away from Ms Hoskins.
Judge Press said he had suspended the sentence due to Dennis’ guilty plea, his remorse, his personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, and his role as the sole carer of his children.
Dennis, 34, has no prior criminal history.
In a police interview, recorded just hours after the crash, Dennis said his wife was still alive and struggling to breathe in the aftermath of the accident.
Ms Hoskins’ death sent shockwaves through Australia’s sporting community.
She competed in the London and Rio Olympics in track cycling, only just missing out on a medal in London after finishing fourth in the 3000m team pursuit category.
In Rio, she finished fifth in the 4000m team pursuit.
Dennis won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the cycling road race.
Originally published as ‘I’m so sorry’: Rohan Dennis pens apology letter to late wife Melissa Hoskins
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