Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
There were tense scenes when disgraced Olympian Rohan Dennis bumped into one of the waiting media outside Adelaide District Court on Friday.
Dennis raised his arms in frustration but left without any further escalation.
He had attempted to shield himself from the press with umbrellas as he and his supporters and legal representatives left court.
Dennis will be able to spend Christmas at home after a decision over a potential jail term was not scheduled until the new year.
The former cyclist has admitted to driving while disqualified and, in turn, breaching a good behaviour bond issued to him following his sentencing over the death of his wife and fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins.
The breach, which happened when he got behind the wheel on June 11 this year, could put the 36-year-old behind bars.
However, at his latest court hearing, it was confirmed that any sentence would not be handed down until February at the absolute earliest.
Dennis appeared in the dock and spoke twice on Friday, answering “yes” when asked if he admitted to driving while disqualifying and to breaching his good behaviour bond.
The bond was handed down in May 2025 when Dennis was sentenced for charges relating to Ms Hoskins’ death on December 31, 2023.
Ms Hoskins, who was 32 at the time, died after being struck by a car driven by Dennis outside the couple’s home in Adelaide following an argument.
Dennis pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of creating a likelihood of harm, although he was not deemed criminally responsible for her death.
Under the terms of his bond, Dennis was banned from driving and warned that getting behind the wheel could land him in jail.
During Friday’s hearing, Dennis’ legal counsel David Edwardson requested a supervision compliance report be prepared for his client – a process that can take up to four weeks.
The request also meant the court did not hear submissions regarding Dennis’ potential sentence – a process that needs to be happen before one can be handed down.
Judge Emily Telfer, the case’s new judge, scheduled a hearing for this to be done in February.
It means that Dennis will remain a free man until at least after this date and will be free to spend Christmas at home with his children.
Why case will not end until 2027
The case around Dennis’ breached bond began on June 11, 2026 when he was pulled over by police in Medindie, on the edge of Adelaide.
The following month entered a guilty plea in writing for driving while disqualified in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
However, the case experienced a series of delays after Dennis was due to be arraigned in front of Judge Ian Press, the same judge who handed down the bond.
This scheduling resulted in Dennis’ lawyers appealing to Judge Press to recuse himself from proceedings.
Further hearings were scheduled on this matter – first for arguments to be submitted and then for the judge to hand down his decision.
On September 30, Judge Press agreed to step back from the case, adjourning the matter until Friday.
The case will next be heard on February 1, 2027 at 9am.
