<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis has pleaded with the media to "back off" and accused journalists of peddling a "false narrative" in his first public statement since facing court over his wife's death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dennis, 35, was handed a suspended jail term in May last year after his wife Melissa Hoskins, 32, was fatally struck by his vehicle near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide's inner north, on December 30, 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cyclist-rohan-dennis-backlash-over-social-media-post-of-car/24f0dd31-7974-43b2-a240-740602fe7c0f" rel="" target="_blank" title="He faced backlash from a victim advocacy group last month"><span>He faced backlash from a victim advocacy group last month</span></a><span> after sharing an Instagram post where he described his car – a different vehicle to the one that struck Hoskins – as an "absolute weapon".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-7-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines-australian-fuel-price-and-supply/0d1a8d3f-5731-407e-8e1e-443d7ebbc556" target="_blank"><strong><span>Donald Trump says Iran wants him to 'keep bombing'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/artemis-ii-breaks-record-for-how-far-humans-travel-from-earth/a66c1a33-c7a0-4f9f-a729-1703cd8f29f2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie role highlighted as Artemis II breaks historic record</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a new message posted to Instagram, Dennis addressed the media scrutiny and defended the post about his Porsche, adding that he "loved Melissa" and was not an abuser.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt her," Dennis wrote.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rohan-dennis-olympic-cyclist-message-on-instagram-after-wife-melissa-hoskins-death/c332d340-5306-4a37-9a54-4771e5188c58" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Never in my life has any physical aggression crossed my mind in any disagreement with Melissa.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The narrative which the media ran with was clear they wanted me to look like the husband who abused his wife."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dennis said he and his family have been mistreated by the media in the wake of Hoskins' death and the subsequent court case.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-virgin-flight-attendant-lucinta-evans-dies-in-fiji/e7e0a8d4-e6b3-477c-b3bc-fe303b0342c3" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australian flight attendant dies after road accident in Fiji</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said journalists had greeted him at the airport the day after Hoskins died and asked him inappropriate questions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ex-cyclist alleged reporters made "disgusting" remarks in front of his children and openly asked if he was a murderer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The media speak about the children and how saddened they are for the children," Dennis continued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Yet they happily stalk, follow and harass not just adults in my family but even when the kids are involved."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dennis said his words had been "twisted" and that he never "intentionally or unintentionally used a vehicle as a weapon".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Never was it legally said that I did either," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The video footage of the accident also proves this statement."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He finished the statement with a final plea: "Time for all you so called [sic] journalists and media outlets to back off and leave my family alone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victims' Rights Commissioner Sarah Quick described Dennis' post about his car last month as "deeply offensive".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It also reflects a profound lack of respect for Melissa and her family, who continue to live with the consequences of that harm every day," Quick told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au/" target="_blank"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dennis pleaded guilty to committing an aggravated act likely to cause harm, but was not held criminally responsible for his wife's death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-close-is-australia-to-recession-warning-signs-explained/f6c2e2a9-dc84-4f1c-8de3-d01c8e782eaa" target="_blank"><strong><span>Is Australia headed for a recession? The latest job data paints a grim picture</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was given a 17-month suspended prison term with a two-year good behaviour bond and was suspended from driving for two years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During sentencing submissions in the SA District Court last year, Hoskins' mother Amanda said her daughter had loved Dennis and "and I know that you would never intentionally hurt her".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I believe this is a tragic accident. Your temper is your downfall and needs to be addressed," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During his competitive career, Dennis won two world titles in the road time trial, as well as silver in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics and bronze in the road time trial at the Tokyo Olympics.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="http://nine.com.au/" target="_blank"><span>Nine.com.au</span></a><span> has contacted Dennis for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).</span></strong></div></div>