Olympic cyclist’s parents ‘focused on kids’ after husband sentenced over tragic death

The grieving mother and father of Olympic bike owner Melissa Hoskins say they’ll deal with the futures of their grandchildren after her husband was given a suspended jail time period.

Fellow ex-Olympian Rohan Dennis, 34, appeared in South Australia’s District Court docket on Wednesday after pleading responsible to a cost of committing an aggravated act prone to trigger hurt.

Ms Hoskins, 32, was struck by his car close to their residence at Medindie, in Adelaide’s internal north, on December 30, 2023. She suffered critical accidents and died in Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Outdoors courtroom, her father Peter Hoskins stated it was time for the household to maneuver on “which would be Melissa’s expectation of us”.

“We want to continue to be an integral part of her children’s lives and their future. How we do this in a meaningful way and a relevant way will take time,” he stated, whereas being supported by his spouse Amanda.

“With respect to Rohan, as hard as it’s going to be, it’s important that we have a well-mannered relationship with him. (The children) deserve this. They have done nothing wrong.”

His voice breaking, Mr Hoskins stated, “We miss Melissa terribly. She was … really special”.

The household had not but acquired an apology from Dennis, “but I’m sure that will come in time”.

“There are two young children caught up in this tragedy … who have lost their mum, for them to then go and lose their dad … I don’t think that would be ideal at all,” he stated.

“From the outset it (a jail term) wasn’t something we were pursuing.”

As Decide Press delivered his sentencing remarks, Dennis remained silent and emotionless within the dock, as he has performed all through the authorized course of.

Describing the implications of what occurred as tragic “really does not do justice to the grief, the anguish and the turmoil those events have brought into the lives of those who knew and loved your wife”, Decide Press instructed him.

The courtroom has been instructed the couple had argued over kitchen renovations earlier than Dennis left their residence and drove away.

The identical single-mindedness that made them extremely profitable athletes “could sometimes lead to you both taking an intractable position during some dispute”, Decide Press stated.

“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.”

It was essential to acknowledge Dennis was not charged with inflicting the dying of his spouse, Decide Press stated.

Ms Hoskins had jumped onto his automotive bonnet.

Driving at any velocity when an individual is on the bonnet was “an inherently risky and dangerous act”, Decide Press stated.

After Ms Hoskins acquired off the bonnet, she opened the door, which Dennis closed with out stopping.

“Unbeknownst to you, your wife held onto the car as you accelerated down the street. It was then that she fell and lost her life,” Decide Press stated.

He was sentenced to 1 yr, 4 months and 28 days in jail, diminished from two years and two months due to his responsible plea.

Dennis agreed to a $100, two-year good behaviour bond and his driver’s licence was suspended for 5 years.

The choose warned him that any breach of the driving suspension could be a breach of the bond and Dennis could be jailed.

Ms Hoskins competed on the 2012 and 2016 Olympics on the observe within the staff pursuit and was within the squad that gained the 2015 world title.

Dennis gained two world titles within the street time trial, in addition to silver within the staff pursuit on the 2012 Olympics and bronze within the street time trial on the Tokyo Olympics.