Rohan Dennis seeks recusal of sentencing judge in driving while disqualified case
Quick Look
- Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis, 36, will seek to have a new sentencing judge hear his case for driving while disqualified after pleading guilty in July.
- He was previously given a suspended sentence and five-year ban related to the 2023 incident that led to the death of his wife, Melissa Hoskins.
- Police caught him driving with two children as passengers in June, and his lawyer said he intends to apply for recusal of the sentencing judge, with written submissions to be filed before a September 22 court appearance.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Rohan Dennis pleaded guilty in July to driving while disqualified. This charge stems from an incident in June where he was caught driving with two children as passengers, not far from where his wife Melissa Hoskins was struck and killed by a car he was driving in December 2023. Following her death, Dennis was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving and an aggravated charge of driving without due care, but those charges were dropped by prosecutors. Instead, he pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm and received a suspended 17-month prison term upon entering a two-year good-behaviour bond.
Former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis will seek to have a new sentencing judge hear his case for driving while disqualified.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge in July.
Dennis was given a suspended sentence and a five-year ban for driving last year for the events leading up to the death of his wife Melissa Hoskins.
Ms Hoskins, a two-time Olympian cyclist, was struck by a car driven by Dennis outside the couple's Medindie home in Adelaide's inner-north in December 2023.
In June, police caught Dennis driving, with two children as passengers in the vehicle, not far from where his wife died.
Today in South Australia’s District Court, his lawyer Craig Caldicott said he intended to apply for a recusal of the sentencing judge.
Speaking outside court, Mr Caldicott said he was "of the belief" that the application was “appropriate” in the circumstances.
"There's nothing wrong with this judge, he's a very good judge," Mr Caldicott said.
"There's a thing called the law and we follow the law and we do what is appropriate in all these cases."
When asked about the reason for a recusal application, Mr Caldicott said: "I can't go into that at the moment".
"We'll be filing written submissions just before we appear in court on the 22nd [of September]."
Mr Caldicott said there was a possibility that Dennis could be jailed for the offending.
"You should be well aware that driving while disqualified, people go to jail all the time," he said.
After Ms Hoskins's death, Dennis was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and an aggravated charge of driving without due care, but those charges were later dropped by prosecutors.
Instead, Dennis pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm.
He was handed a 17-month prison term, which was suspended upon him entering a two-year good-behaviour bond.
The breach of bond matter will return to court later this month.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The court will deny the recusal application and proceed with sentencing on September 22.
Likely · Within days
If the bond is breached, Rohan Dennis will serve at least part of the suspended 17-month prison term.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific grounds are being cited for the recusal application against the sentencing judge?
- What is the likelihood that the recusal request will be granted by the court?
- What penalties could Rohan Dennis face if the bond is breached and he is resentenced?
