Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in relation to the death of his wife, fellow Olympian and former world champion Melissa Hoskins.
Dennis, 34, pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of causing harm at Adelaide magistrates court on Tuesday.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Dennis was arrested after Hoskins was struck by his vehicle outside their home in Adelaide in December 2023. Hoskins later died in hospital at the age of 32.
Dennis had previously been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and an aggravated charge of driving without care. It was confirmed on Tuesday that the court will not proceed with these charges.
The two-time Olympic medalist has been released on bail and the case has been adjourned until January 24, when he will be sentenced. The charge of creating likelihood of causing harm carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Dennis’ lawyer, Jane Abbey SC, said via AP: “What is agreed that will happen today is that there will be a plea to count three… the original charges will be dropped.
“So there was no intention of Mr Dennis to harm his wife and this charge does not charge him with any responsibility for her death.”
Hoskins, a track and road cyclist, was part of Australia’s gold medal-winning team pursuit cohort at the 2015 World Championships, as the Australia team broke the world record in the process of topping the podium. She won a further three world silvers and a bronze in the team pursuit and scratch race at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Championships.
Hoskins also collected two road cycling world silver medals and a bronze in the team time trial between 2012 and 2014. She represented Australia at two Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016, before retiring from the sport in 2017.
“The AOC has expressed the utmost sadness at the loss of Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins after the tragic events in Adelaide,” the Australian Olympic Committee said following her death.
Dennis won stages at all three Grand Tours, in addition to Olympic silver at London 2012 and bronze at Tokyo 2020. He is a multiple world champion across road and track, and announced in February 2023 that he would be retiring at the end of the racing season.
Hoskins and Dennis married in 2018 and had two children together.
(Top photo: Sara Cavallini/Getty Images)
