By Candace Sutton in Adelaide for Chron Australia, January 3, 2024, 3:45am, updated January 3, 2024, 4:13am
The family of cycling world champion Rohan Dennis have gathered for a private meeting three days after he was charged in the death of his Olympian wife Melissa Hoskins.
Late on Wednesday morning, a somber-looking Dennis left the $2.45 million Adelaide mansion near where Hoskins was fatally struck on the road last Saturday night to visit his parents.
Dennis was accompanied by his two young children and a Spanish friend who was driving a white Passat believed to belong to Hoskins.
In the minutes before they left the family home, the children could be seen playing with a fishing rod, then crying and the car horn could be heard.
Cycling champion Rohan Dennis leaves his Adelaide home on Wednesday, three days after he was accused of causing the death of his wife Melissa Hoskins. The family of accused Olympic champion Rohan Dennis has gathered for a private meeting following the death of his cyclist's wife and his criminal charges
Wearing a gray T-shirt and white shorts and covering his face for several days, Dennis locked the house and was driven to a property 5km away in an upscale Adelaide suburb east of the city.
It is the second time in two days that Dennis has sat in the passenger seat as his dark gray Volkswagen ute is impounded by police.
When the carload arrived at the second address, Dennis was greeted by his parents, Debbie and Brenton Dennis.
Shortly afterwards, Rohan's brother Scott arrived with his German-born wife Inga and their baby.
Wearing casual black leggings and a cream top, Debbie Dennis warmly greeted the couple, who appeared to have driven from Victoria for the family reunion.
Dennis was greeted by his parents Debbie and Brenton Dennis. Rohan's brother Scott soon arrived with his German-born wife Inga and their baby. Wearing a gray T-shirt and white shorts, Dennis locked his villa and was driven to a house 5km away in an upscale Adelaide suburb east of the city
Scott Dennis unloaded clothes and bags from the car, then Debbie and Inga Dennis drove off in the Passat and went to a nearby Woolworths to buy a few items.
After a second shopping trip to Woolworths, the family seemed to have settled in for lunch.
Rohan Dennis was arrested on Sunday and accused of being behind the wheel of the $70,000 Volkswagen Amarok Highline that hit his wife on Avenel Gardens Road in Medindie.
Hoskins, who died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, allegedly jumped onto the bonnet of the Amarok and grabbed a door handle.
It is also believed the 32-year-old may have been dragged by the vehicle, with the incident captured on neighbors' CCTV cameras.
Both Hoskins and Dennis competed for Australia at the Olympics and had each won events at the World Cycling Championships.
Both Hoskins and Dennis competed for Australia at the Olympics and had each won events at the World Cycling Championships. The couple is pictured
Dennis was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, careless driving and endangering life and was bailed to appear again in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
Hoskins won a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, which she described as the highlight of her career.
She competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics and retired from professional cycling in 2017.
Dennis finished on the podium at the 2013 and 2020 Olympics and won the UCI World Championship in the men's individual time trial in 2018 and 2019.
He was stage winner of the 2015 Tour de France and retired from professional cycling at the end of 2023.