Father’s act of grace draws family tragedy to sad close

The courageous statement by shattered parents Peter and Amanda Hoskins outside an Adelaide court on Wednesday was remarkable for what it did say – and more remarkable for what it didn’t say.

Melissa Hoskins’ parents Amanda and Peter Hoskins address the media outside court in Adelaide on Wednesday May 14, 2025. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt/NewsWire

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The courageous statement by shattered parents Peter and Amanda Hoskins outside an Adelaide court on Wednesday was remarkable for what it did say – and more remarkable for what it didn’t say.

This was an exercise in stoicism and grace. In the space of a few short words, these grief-stricken grandparents took us inside the horrible logistics that now exist within a family comprising two young, motherless children, and a father who has not apologised for his role in this tragedy.

Peter and Amanda Hoskins’ daughter Melissa was an Olympic cyclist whose life was claimed in a car crash in 2023 arising from an ugly domestic dispute with her fellow Olympian husband, champion cyclist Rohan Dennis.

Dennis, a silver medallist at the London Olympics, was not charged with causing his wife’s death. Rather, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of aggravated act likely to cause harm. That charge suggested indifference to the condition of his wife after he struck her with his Volkswagen Amarok ute, then unknowingly dragged her along the road as he drove away from their family home.

Melissa Hoskins at the track cycling world championships in 2012. Picture: AAP

Because of the need for him to care for his now motherless children, the SA District Court ruled on Wednesday Dennis will receive a fully suspended 16-month sentence, contingent upon his entering a two-year good behaviour bond, for which he’ll pay just $100.

Outside court, Melissa Hoskins’ parents somehow maintained their composure as they delivered a statement which was devoid of any sense of vengeance or anger, offered no thoughts on the sentence, but focused instead on the future and security of their two grandchildren.

In a previous hearing they had spoken through their victim impact statements of their sense of loss, their disappointment that Dennis had not apologised, and the fact that in their view he had abrogated his duties as a husband and father with his actions that fateful night.

But there would be no repeat of these sentiments outside court on Wednesday, where in an ultimate act of love they said that their mind was fully focused on the ­future of their two grandkids.

This, they said, would involve the need to maintain a relationship with Dennis.

“It’s now time for us to move on, which would be Melissa’s expectations of us,” Peter Hoskins 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.”

Rohan Dennis. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

It is hard to fathom how these grandparents summoned the strength to issue such a charitable statement, and how they will continue to find the requisite courage to maintain a relationship with a man whom, you suspect, they may privately wish never to see or speak to again.

The fact that Dennis has been banned from driving for five years as part of his sentence means that Peter and Amanda Hoskins may be playing a very hands-on role in raising these children, taking them to sport, on play dates, all of which necessitates a viable ongoing relationship with a son-in-law who has pleaded guilty to a truly shocking crime.

This was a trial that gripped the state of South Australia, and beyond, all stemming from an argument between a husband and wife over home renovations.

Its human impact was appalling, most of all on Melissa Hoskins, but for her mum and dad too. At what is normally such a happy time for older Australians, they now find themselves grappling with such an awful set of circumstances, all to maintain contact with and help care for the grandchildren they so deeply love.

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 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.

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.

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.

Judge Press stressed Dennis was not being held responsible for Ms Hoskins’ death, but for his actions leading 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, anguish and turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife,” Judge Press said, addressing Dennis.

“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.”

Dennis admitted to driving a motor vehicle without lawful excuse while Hoskins was on or in proximity to the vehicle, knowing that act was likely to cause harm to another and being recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NEWSWIRE