Rohan Dennis, an Australian world champion cyclist, received a suspended jail sentence on Wednesday for his role in a vehicle incident that fatally injured his wife, Melissa Hoskins, a fellow Olympic cyclist.
Ms. Hoskins was struck by a car driven by Mr. Dennis in December 2023 in Adelaide, the authorities said at the time. Ms. Hoskins, a celebrated Olympic cyclist, later died of her injuries in a hospital. She was 32.
In December last year, Mr. Dennis, 34, pleaded guilty to one charge of committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm, which carried a maximum sentence of seven years. He was initially charged with dangerous driving causing death, and driving without due care, for which he could have faced 15 years in prison if convicted.
On Wednesday, a judge at District Court of South Australia, in Adelaide, sentenced Mr. Dennis to a 17-month jail term. The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behavior bond, meaning Mr. Dennis will not serve jail time if he does not violate the conditions of the bond. Mr. Dennis was also barred from driving for five years.
Melissa Hoskins, an Olympic cyclist who was fatally injured in 2023 in Adelaide.Credit…Eric Feferberg/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Ian Press said that Mr. Dennis had disregarded Ms. Hoskins’ safety. But he cited Mr. Dennis’ cooperation with the police, as well as his guilty plea, his remorse, and his taking responsibility for his and Ms. Hoskins’ two young children as reasons for the suspended sentence.
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