Melissa Hoskins death: Australian champion cyclist Rohan Dennis admits lesser charge after wife’s death

Melissa Hoskins and Rohan Dennis in a family photo posted to social media a week before her death. Photo / Instagram

Australian former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has admitted a charge of creating a risk of harm in relation to the December 2023 road death of his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins, 32.

Dennis pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court to an aggravated charge of creating a likelihood of harm after a car he was driving hit her, according to Australian public broadcaster ABC.

Prosecutors had agreed not to proceed with charges of “causing death by dangerous driving” and “driving without due care and endangering life”, the ABC said.

Melissa Hoskins competed for Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the track an in the team pursuit. Photo / AUS Olympic Team

His lawyer reportedly told the court that Dennis, 34, did not intend to kill his wife.

Hoskins, a retired track cyclist who represented Australia at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, died in an Adelaide hospital after she was struck by Dennis' car in Adelaide’s inner north.

Police at the time said Hoskins jumped on to the bonnet of the Volkswagen Amarok ute and grabbed at a door handle while Dennis allegedly drove until she fell to the ground, the Adelaide Advertiser reported at the time.

The mother of two may have been dragged some distance along the street.

Hoskins rode in the Australian team that won the team pursuit event at the 2015 Track Cycling World Championships in France.

Dennis won the world time trials in 2018 and 2019, as well as a 2015 stage win in the Tour de France.

- with AFP