sportskeeda
Former world cycling champion Rohan Dennis has pleaded guilty following a car accident in Australia that led to the tragic death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins.
Melissa Hoskins, aged 32 and an Olympic cyclist herself, succumbed to her injuries in the hospital on December 30, 2023, after being struck by a vehicle operated by Dennis near their home in Adelaide.
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The 34-year-old initially faced charges of dangerous driving causing death and driving without proper care.
Subsequently, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of creating a likelihood of harm.
Dennis, who lives in Adelaide, is awaiting sentencing at a later date.
This charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
By entering a guilty plea, Dennis accepted that he was operating a vehicle while Hoskins was in close proximity, acknowledging the potential risk of his actions and a reckless disregard for the outcomes.
Jane Abbey KC remarked: “Mr. Dennis had no intention to harm his wife, and this charge does not make him legally responsible for her death.”
Melissa Hoskins is survived by their two young children.
She was a world champion in team pursuit in 2015 and participated in two Olympic Games, finishing fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Her untimely death prompted an outpouring of tributes across the globe.
After retiring from professional cycling in 2017, she married Dennis in February 2018.
I trained alongside a Tour de France stage winner to test cycling’s next big thing – I was well and truly humbled
Dennis, who ended his professional cycling career in 2023, has celebrated victories in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España.
A multiple world champion in both road and track disciplines, he secured bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and previously earned silver in team pursuit at the London 2012 Olympics.
Additionally, he claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
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