Source : ABC NEWS
A post shared on Instagram by former professional cyclist Rohan Dennis, whose wife died after being struck by a car he was driving, has been described as “deeply offensive”.
On Wednesday evening, Dennis shared an image of a different car with the caption “what an absolute weapon”.
Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins died in December 2023, after being struck by a car following an argument with Dennis.
Dennis previously pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating likelihood of harm over the death and was handed a 17-month prison term, suspended on a two-year good-behaviour bond.
He was also banned from driving for five years.
Rohan Dennis shared a photo of a car with the description “What an absolute weapon” on Wednesday. (ABC News: Stephen Opie)
Victims’ Rights Commissioner Sarah Quick said the comment reflected “a profound lack of respect for Melissa and her family”.
‘This post is deeply offensive and one that demonstrates a lack of empathy and insight,” she said.
“It’s not only inappropriate but it’s hurtful to a family who are still grieving and quite frankly disrespectful to all people impacted by road trauma.
“Words matter, and a vehicle should never be referred to as a weapon or regarded as a weapon, and the fact that Mr Dennis has chosen to do so is particularly shocking.”
Commissioner Quick said she hoped Dennis would delete his post.
Commissioner for Victims’ Rights Sarah Quick says the post is “deeply offensive”. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
The ABC sent questions to Dennis on Instagram about his posts. He blocked the account that sent those questions without replying.
Since the post on Wednesday, Dennis has shared another two posts.
The first was a picture of his children riding on a footpath with the caption “Two absolute weapons”, and the second CCTV footage of Channel 7 news crews asking him questions.
Dennis sentenced last year
In sentencing last year, District Court Judge Ian Press said Dennis was not criminally responsible for causing Ms Hoskins’s death.
The court previously heard that the couple had argued over home renovations before Dennis got into his car to leave their house on the night of the incident so they could both calm down.
“That is what you intended to do … [but] your wife, however, jumped onto and lay on the bonnet of your vehicle in an apparent attempt to stop you from leaving as she wanted to continue to discuss the issue,” Judge Press said.
Melissa Hoskins died in December 2023. (AAP Image: Joe Castro)
He said while it was “impossible to be precise”, Dennis continued to drive down the lane for about 75 metres at a speed of about 20 kilometres per hour.
“This act forms part of the offence. Driving at any speed when a person is on the bonnet is an inherently risky and dangerous act,” he said.
“What happened next does not form the basis of the charge.”
Judge Press said it was “unbeknownst” to Dennis that Ms Hoskins had “held onto the car” as he accelerated down the street, and that Ms Hoskins then came off the vehicle.
“There is no allegation that you knew, or even contemplated, the likelihood that your wife was still running next to the car as you continued to drive down the street for only a matter of a second or two,” he said.
He said Dennis then immediately stopped the car and attended to his wife.
After the sentence was handed down Ms Hoskins’s parents said it was important the family took “time to process” what had happened before focusing on moving forward.
An apology letter written by Dennis to his late wife was also released by the court, detailed how he would “live my life with a piece of my heart missing”.
