Rohan Dennis apologises to late wife, Olympian Melissa Hoskins, in letter released by court
Melissa Hoskins was a world champion cyclist and Olympian, who died in December 2023. (AAP Image: Joe Castro)
In short:
Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis wrote an apology letter to his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins before he was given a suspended sentence for the events leading up to her death.
The letter has now been released by the South Australian District Court.
In the letter, Dennis said Ms Hoskins was “irreplaceable as a mother” to their two young children and he was “so sorry for what happened”.
A judge has released an apology letter written by Rohan Dennis to his late wife Melissa Hoskins in which he details how he will "live my life with a piece of my heart missing".
Former professional cyclist Rohan Craig Dennis, 34, was sentenced in South Australia's District Court last week for the events leading up to the death of his Olympian wife in December 2023.
Dennis previously pleaded guilty to an aggravated act likely to cause harm, relating to the events leading up to Ms Hoskins' death, but not causing her death.
Last Wednesday, Judge Ian Press sentenced the 34-year-old to a 17-month prison term which he suspended upon him entering a two-year good behaviour bond.
Dennis was sentenced last week. (ABC News: Marco Catalano)
Dennis started the letter, which was written on March 20 this year, by thanking Ms Hoskins for "everything".
"Thank you for everything, for the children, for life and for the memories you left us with. These will last forever," he wrote.
"You may be physically gone but you will forever be with the kids and I.
"Not just in pictures throughout the house, but in our hearts and our thoughts."
Melissa Hoskins was described as "irreplaceable as a mother" in the letter. (YouTube)
In the letter, Dennis described Ms Hoskins as “irreplaceable as a mother” to their two young children, and said he was “so sorry for what happened”.
“… As I said to your mum just after this happened, not a second goes by in the day where I don’t wish it was me instead,” he wrote.
"The only thing that I'm OK with about all of this, is that I'm the one suffering in this situation, and it's not you."
Dennis wrote that Ms Hoskins would be proud of their two children, who are both aged under eight years old.
"Physically you aren't here but I notice little things that help guide me when I'm lost that I know you have played a part in," he wrote.
"The kids are happy, so damn smart and cheeky all in one.
"I know how proud you would be of them both and I'll forever tell them that, even when they're just in bed hugging their bunnies."
Dennis ended the letter by saying that Ms Hoskins would "forever be the glue that holds us together".
"Everyone misses you so much, but everyone has stepped up to help fill the void of you not being here as best they can," he wrote.
"… I will always live my life with a piece of my heart missing. It is and always will be yours no matter what. I love you."