Former world champion cyclist Rohan Dennis has broken his silence in a detailed and emotional statement regarding the tragic death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins. The 35-year-old father of two walked free from court in May 2024 after pleading guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm over the incident that occurred on December 30, 2023.
Dennis Accuses Media of 'False Narrative'
In a scathing new Instagram post, Dennis has taken aim at media outlets, accusing them of creating what he describes as a 'false narrative' about him and making 'disgusting' remarks in front of his young daughter. 'Yes it was an accident,' he stated firmly about his wife's death. 'I loved Melissa and the last thing I ever wanted was to hurt her.'
The Olympian cyclist, who competed at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, emphasized that he has always been against any form of abuse against women. 'Never in my life has any physical aggression crossed my mind in any disagreement with Melissa,' Dennis wrote. 'The narrative which the media ran with was clear they wanted me to look like the husband who abused his wife.'
Allegations of Media Harassment
Dennis detailed specific incidents that he claims demonstrate media harassment of his family. 'They greeted me and my family at the airport not 24 hours after my wife's funeral,' he revealed. 'The things which I and others vividly remember that were said to me in front of my 2-year-old daughter are disgusting!'
According to Dennis, reporters asked him pointed questions including: 'How does it feel knowing you killed the mother of your two children, and they'll never see their mother again?!' and 'Are you a murderer?!' He expressed frustration that media outlets claim to care about his children while allegedly following and harassing the family.
Addressing the Controversial 'Weapon' Post
The cyclist also addressed the significant controversy surrounding his return to social media last month, when he posted images of a Porsche with the caption 'What an absolute weapon.' This post drew heavy criticism from both the public and officials, including South Australian Victims' Rights Commissioner Sarah Quick, who called it 'a deeply offensive comment that demonstrates a clear lack of insight.'
Dennis defended his choice of words, stating: 'Then there is the clear twisting of my words. They know I never intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon. Neither was it legally said that I did either. The video footage of the accident also proves this statement.'
The Tragic Incident Details
During Dennis's trial, the court heard that the couple had argued over kitchen renovations before he left their house and began to drive away along the laneway beside their property. Ms. Hoskins had jumped onto the car bonnet before falling to the ground and was subsequently run over. She suffered serious injuries and died at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
In his police interview, Dennis recounted the moments leading up to the tragedy: 'We were yelling at each other, and I was just like 'I'm out', as in like I'm just gonna leave the house. As I was getting in my car, my wife Mel ran out and as I was moving she jumped in front and onto the bonnet.'
The cyclist described continuing to drive slowly down the lane while asking his wife what she was doing. 'Then we got to the end of Medindie Lane and I stopped and noticed Mel was looking to jump off basically... and she jumped off,' he told officers. Dennis recalled hearing a thump and seeing in his mirror that she was on the ground.
Legal Outcome and Final Plea
Judge Press emphasized during the trial that Dennis was not being held criminally responsible for his wife's death. The cyclist had told police officers that he had no intention of harming his wife, adding that it was 'the last thing I'd ever bloody do.'
Dennis concluded his emotional Instagram message with a direct plea to media outlets: 'Time for all you so called journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone.' The post represents his most comprehensive public statement since the tragedy that claimed his wife's life and changed his family forever.
