Former Olympic bicycle owner and world champion Rohan Dennis obtained a suspended sentence on Wednesday over what was termed a “tragic accident” that led to the dying of his spouse, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
The 34-year-old Dennis appeared in South Australia District Court docket after earlier pleading responsible to a cost of committing an aggravated act more likely to trigger hurt.
Dennis was arrested after Hoskins, 32, was struck by his automobile in entrance of their residence at Medindie in Adelaide’s north on Dec. 30, 2023. Hoskins suffered critical accidents within the crash and died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The court docket was advised that the couple had argued over kitchen renovations earlier than Dennis left their residence and drove away. The court docket additionally heard that Hoskins had jumped onto the hood of the automotive throughout the incident.
Australian Olympic Committee
Dennis on Wednesday was sentenced to at least one 12 months, 4 months and 28 days in jail, to be suspended for 2 years. The sentence was lowered from two years and two months due to his responsible plea and he’s been positioned on a two-year good habits bond.
His license was additionally suspended for 5 years.
“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,” Decide Ian Press stated Wednesday.
Dennis confirmed little emotion when Press sentenced him.
“Given your plea of guilty, your remorse, that you are the sole carer for your young children, and given all your other personal circumstances and the circumstances of the offending, I am satisfied that good reason exists to suspend that sentence,” the choose stated.
The offense carried a most sentence of seven years in jail however lawyer Jane Abbey requested that her consumer obtain a suspended sentence, which was not opposed by the prosecution.
Throughout sentencing submissions in in April, Amanda Hoskins stated her daughter had cherished Dennis “and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her.”
“I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed,” she stated.
Hoskins’ mother and father spoke exterior the court docket after sentencing on Wednesday, saying they have been “glad” the case was over and so they hoped the household may “move on,” the BBC reported.
Rui Vieira / AP
Hoskins’ father stated the household was but to obtain an apology from Dennis, however anticipated it “will come with time,” the BBC reported. He stated it was necessary for the couple to have a “well-mannered relationship” with Dennis going ahead.
Hoskins and Dennis have two kids, the BBC reported.
“There are two young children caught up in this tragedy… Clearly, we want to continue to be an integral part of [the] children’s lives and their future,” Hoskins’ father stated.
Hoskins’ funeral was held in her residence metropolis of Perth, Western Australia and a public memorial service was held in Adelaide in February 2024. Dennis attended the service with their two kids.
Hoskins competed on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the observe within the crew pursuit and was within the squad that gained the 2015 world title. On the 2016 Video games, she was hospitalized after being concerned in a high-speed crash on the Olympic Velodrome throughout coaching, Australian public broadcaster ABC reported.
Dennis gained two world titles within the highway time trial, in addition to silver within the crew pursuit on the 2012 Olympics and bronze within the highway time trial on the Tokyo Olympics.
