Gruesome CCTV footage shows the wife of Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis chasing and grabbing him just before she died.
Dennis, 34, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday to answer charges of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of careless driving.
He was arrested after his wife Melissa Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle outside their home in Medindie in Adelaide’s north on December 30, 2023.
Dennis pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of creating a likelihood of harm, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
CCTV footage of the incident shows Hoskins running alongside the car Dennis was driving after first jumping onto the hood of the vehicle. The Australian reported.
The footage shows Hoskins reaching for a door handle before she was hit by the Volkswagen car.
Melissa Hoskins (left) died after being struck by a car driven by her husband Rohan Dennis (right) outside their Adelaide home in December 2023
Dennis (pictured outside court) has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge after initially being charged with dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of careless driving
She suffered serious injuries in the crash and paramedics took her to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for further treatment, but she could not be saved.
Jane Abbey KC, for Dennis, told the court that the defense and prosecutors had agreed to withdraw the original charge and that an aggravated charge of creating a likelihood of harm would be laid instead.
“What will happen today is that a plea will be taken to a count of three… the original charge will be dropped,” she told Magistrate Justin Wickens.
‘A charge of recklessness was introduced today with regard to count three. Thus, Mr. Dennis did not intend to harm his wife and this indictment does not impose any responsibility on him for her death.”
Mr. Wickens told Dennis that he was driving with his wife sitting on or near his vehicle knowing it was likely to cause damage, or recklessly without regard to whether damage was caused.
It was a crime because they were in a relationship.
The maximum penalty is seven years in prison and five years loss of driver’s license.
CCTV footage of the incident reportedly shows Hoskins (pictured with Dennis) running alongside the vehicle driven by her husband, moments before sustaining fatal injuries
Dennis, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was released on bail and appeared in court for sentencing on January 24.
Mr. Wickens told Dennis that he was driving with his wife sitting on or near his vehicle knowing it was likely to cause damage, or recklessly without regard to whether damage was caused.
Ms Hoskins competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games on the track in the team pursuit, and was part of the team that won the 2015 world title in the event.
During his competitive career, Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympic Games and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He became the seventh Australian to wear the yellow jersey as race leader at the Tour de France by winning the opening time trial in 2015, setting a race record for his average speed.
He also won the 2015 Tour Down Under in South Australia.
Mrs Hoskins was buried in her home city of Perth and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February. Dennis attended the service with their two children.
On January 2 this year, Melissa’s father Peter, her mother Amanda and sister Jessica released a statement expressing their heartbreak.
“Words cannot convey our grief, sorrow and the tragic circumstances of Melissa’s death,” Mr Hoskins wrote on behalf of the family.
‘Myself, Amanda, Jess and my families are completely devastated and are still struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
“Not only have we lost a daughter and sister, her children have also lost their mother, a free spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life.”