Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has penned an apology letter to his late wife Melissa Hoskins

After being handed a suspended sentence of more than a year in jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months, Rohan Dennis has penned an apology letter to his dead wife.

Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has penned an apology letter to his dead wife Melissa Hoskins, almost 18 months after her death at their family home in Adelaide’s inner-north.

On Wednesday, Dennis was given a suspended sentence of more than a year in jail, with a non-parole period of 10 months, over the death of his wife in December 2023.

Ms Hoskins – who was also an Olympic cyclist – died after being struck by the Volkswagen Amarok Highline V6 ute Dennis was driving on Avenel Gardens Rd, Medindie.

Dennis pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated act likely to cause harm, a charge that did not allege he caused Ms Hoskins’ death.

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins from their social media accounts .

Judge Ian Press stressed that Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death, but for his actions leading up to it.

7NEWS Adelaide obtained the letter after a judge released it on Friday afternoon, with Dennis apologising for “what happened” to his wife, and promised to take care of their two children.

“Dear Mel, thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with,” he wrote.

“These will last forever. You are irreplaceable as a mother to Oliver and Madeleine. The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky, all in one.

“I know how proud you would be of them both and I would forever tell them that. Even when they’re just in bed hugging their bunnies.

“I’m so sorry for what happened.

Rohan Dennis and Melissa Hoskins from their social media accounts . Wedding

“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.”

Throughout the 18-month legal trial into Hoskins’ death, her family had called for an apology from Dennis, they said outside court on Wednesday.

Ms Hoskins’ parents, Peter and Amanda, said their sole focus was now on their grandchildren, and having a “well-mannered” relationship with Dennis.

“(The couple’s two children) deserve this. They have done nothing wrong ... there’s two young children caught up in this tragedy who have lost their Mum, for them to then go and lose their Dad (by a jail sentence) … I don’t think that would be ideal,” Mr Hoskins said.

Judge Ian Press said he was suspending the sentence because Dennis was now the sole carer of the couple’s two young children.

Dennis was sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days jail and set a non-parole period of 10 months.

However, that sentence was suspended on a $100, two-year good behaviour bond.

Dennis was also disqualified from driving for five years, backdated to the date of the offence.

Originally published as Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has penned an apology letter to his late wife Melissa Hoskins