When words about vehicles carry the weight of tragedy, even casual online comments can wound a grieving family. The South Australian Victims' Rights Commissioner has condemned a social media post by Rohan Dennis, the former professional cyclist whose wife, fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins, died after being struck by a car he was driving in December 2023.
On Wednesday evening, Dennis shared a photo of a vehicle on Instagram with the caption "what an absolute weapon". It was a seemingly casual comment about a car. But within hours, the post drew sharp criticism from Sarah Quick, the Commissioner for Victims' Rights, who said the language was jarring given the circumstances.
"This post is deeply offensive and one that demonstrates a lack of empathy and insight," Commissioner Quick 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."
She added that the choice of words was particularly troubling. "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."
The court record shows that Hoskins, 32, died on New Year's Eve 2023 after an argument with Dennis over home renovations at their house in Medindie, Adelaide. Dennis was arrested after Hoskins was struck by his vehicle in front of their home; she suffered serious injuries in the crash and died at Royal Adelaide Hospital. The couple's two children were at home at the time.
In sentencing last May, District Court Judge Ian Press found that Dennis was not criminally responsible for causing Hoskins' death, though Dennis had pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating the likelihood of harm. Dennis was sentenced to one year, four months and 28 days in jail, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for five years.
What made Dennis' post jarring to observers was its timing and context. The Australian had not posted on social media for more than two years following Hoskins' death on New Year's Eve 2023. His return to Instagram this week, with language that echoes the circumstances of his wife's death, struck many as tone-deaf to the grief still surrounding the case.
When the ABC attempted to contact Dennis through Instagram about the post, he blocked the account. Since the initial post, Dennis has shared two more images: one of his children riding on a footpath with the caption "Two absolute weapons", and another showing CCTV footage of news crews approaching him with questions.
Commissioner Quick said she hoped Dennis would delete the original post. The Commissioner for Victims' Rights is an independent statutory officer who helps victims of crime and makes sure they are treated according to the Victims of Crime Act 2001.
Hoskins' parents have sought to maintain a relationship with Dennis for the sake of their grandchildren, emphasising that they believe the incident was tragic rather than intentional. Yet the family's focus, publicly stated since sentencing, has been on moving forward and preserving their involvement in their grandchildren's lives. The latest social media episode, now under scrutiny from the state's victims advocate, may complicate that path.
For further information about victims' rights and support services in South Australia, see the Victims of Crime SA website.