Melissa Hoskins’ father tells Rohan Dennis: ‘I can’t forgive you, not yet’

A trivial argument over a kitchen renovation preceded the tragic death of champion cyclist Melissa Hoskins, a court has been told.

Rohan Dennis at court in Adelaide on Monday. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

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A trivial argument over a kitchen renovation preceded the tragic death of champion cyclist Melissa Hoskins, a court has been told as family members said her fellow Olympian husband Rohan ­Dennis had never apologised for driving the car that killed her.

Amid pleas to keep Dennis out of jail for the sake of the couple’s two young children, Hoskins’ ­father Peter said he was still waiting for his son-in-law to explain the events that led to the loss of his daughter in late 2023.

“Can I forgive you for the abandonment of your responsibilities as a husband and a father on December 30?” Mr Hoskins said. “I doubt I can do that. I doubt I can just yet, given what you have taken from me and my family, and the manner in which Melissa’s life was taken.”

Melissa Hoskins in 2012.

However, he added that “time is a great healer” and he believed anger would dissipate. “An apology and some sort of explanation would certainly help us,” he said.

Hoskins’ sister, Jessica Locke, said she still had nightmares about the event. “I will live with this every single day while I’m alive,” she said.

The family had not received an apology from Dennis and “no remorse has been shown”, she said.

Hoskins’ mother, Amanda, said she believed the death was a “tragic accident”. “I know that you would never intentionally hurt her,” she said.

Hoskins’ parents, Peter and Amanda, and sister Jessica Locke. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Martin

As Dennis drove away from the couple’s home at Medindie in Adelaide’s inner north, Hoskins jumped on the bonnet of the Volkswagen Amarok and then ran beside the vehicle, the court was told. She was struck after reaching for a door handle. She later died at Royal Adelaide Hospital. Dennis, 44, in December pleaded guilty to driving recklessly and acting in a way likely to cause harm.

The Hoskins family faced Dennis at Adelaide District Court on Monday as they delivered victim impact statements.

The hearing, before judge Ian Press, was told a domestic disagreement about money for a kitchen renovation had spilled onto the street. Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, said it was the “sort of thing that husbands and wives disagree about all the time”.

Further work needed to be done to kitchen cupboards, but Dennis was unhappy about spending any more money.

Ms Abbey said “emotions would run hot” between the pair a couple of times a year. Highly competitive athletes, it was unsurprising that neither wanted to concede during disputes.

As a result, the pair had “an agreed strategy” that Dennis would leave the home and spend some time alone to allow them to calm down before returning to settle the dispute. On this ­occasion, Hoskins didn’t want him to leave and followed him as he left, Ms Abbey said. Dennis drove away at an ­estimated speed of 20km/hr. CCTV footage showed Hoskins on the bonnet for about six seconds.

Prosecutor Tali Costi said Dennis did not know Hoskins was holding onto the ute, but said an element of his offending involved an initial act of acceleration, knowing Hoskins was close to the vehicle. Ms Abbey said Dennis was in love with Hoskins. “He loved her as his best friend, as his partner and as the mother to his children,” she said. “He was devastated … He recognises his ­responsibility.”

Ms Abbey asked Judge Press to suspend any sentence he might impose, stressing there was no ­intent or malice on the part of Dennis, there was no concern about his future prospects and a jail sentence would further disrupt his two children. Dennis will be sentenced on May 14.

Dennis won silver in the 4000m team pursuit at the 2012 London Olympics. At Rio in 2016, he finished fifth and won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Hoskins competed in the London and Rio Olympics.

Additional reporting: Newswire