Cyclist Rohan Dennis filmed himself behind the wheel of the same VW Amarok ute he was driving when he allegedly hit and killed his wife.
He posted the video to his Instagram page just over a year before the fatal December 30 incident that resulted in the death of 32-year-old Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins.
In the video, to which Dennis added the song Like a Boss by Noes, he drives the car towards his son in a garage, where the then four-year-old playfully points to him with hand traffic signals.
The garage is full of bicycles and helmets and the effect of the video is of a little boy helping his father park in a tight space.
Dennis posted a joke about his son tagging his wife and wrote, “What the hell did we make @melissamdennis.”
People who commented on the video in November 2022 wrote compliments addressed to the boy, including “amazing,” “legend” and “takes pride in his work.”
One man wrote: ‘Perfectly raised. Precision parking, taking care of mom and dad’s car, which also allows more bicycles to be parked. Total score 20/10. Score indicative of age at the time of the “exam”.’
Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis and his wife Melissa Hoskins, pictured in late 2022, just over a year before she tragically died from catastrophic injuries after allegedly being struck by her husband’s uterus
Police have seized the $70,000 VW Amarok ute (above) with which Rohan Dennis allegedly fatally beat his wife on the evening of December 30.
Others commented ‘a true professional, I would hire him’, ‘I can see a career as a police officer’ and ‘He’s got this!’.
The now five-year-old boy and his younger sister, born in 2021, were taken in by Dennis last week after the death of their mother.
At around 8pm on the night before New Year’s Eve, Melissa Hoskins was reportedly hit on the road outside her family home by the dark gray V6 car driven by her husband.
The couple, both former racing cyclists, had been living in the $2.45 million mansion in the wealthy suburb of Medindie in Adelaide’s north for several weeks since Dennis retired from professional competition in Europe.
Having just celebrated Christmas with their two young children, the Dennises seemed intent on purchasing a vineyard and starting their own wine label.
On the night in question, Dennis left their house in his car through the back street and drove around the corner.
The scene of the accident is just yards from the couple’s home and Mrs Hoskins was treated by paramedics on the road where she was injured.
In the video shot by Rohan Dennis, he drives his Amarok ute to his son, who plays ‘cop’, and orders his father with stop and go signals to park in the tight space of the garage.
Rohan Dennis posted the video in November 2022 and added a joke to his wife Melissa about their son saying ‘what the heck did we make’
Paramedics treated her at the scene and she was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but she died shortly afterwards.
South Australian police seized Dennis’ vehicle worth $70,000, while detectives from the Adelaide CIB accused the world champion of causing her death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life.
He was granted police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on March 13.
Mrs Hoskins’ parents, Amanda and Peter, released a statement saying the family were ‘utterly devastated’ by her death.
People commented on the boy’s traffic skills and called him a ‘legend’, someone said he would make a good police officer
They will hold a funeral for their daughter in Fremantle next week, and a memorial service will take place in Adelaide after the end of the Tour Down Under cycling tournament starting tomorrow.
The couple were due to be the face of the Tour’s family ride through the Adelaide CBD this Saturday, held every year in South Africa’s capital.
However, race officials scratched Dennis from the ride after Melissa’s death.
Dennis was seen visiting his own parents with his children at their Adelaide home in the days after Melissa’s tragic death.
It is not known whether the children will travel to Perth for their mother’s funeral.