Rhys Bellinge: Doctor in Dalkeith fatal crash to spend at least two months in jail before next court date

The obstetrician accused of killing a young woman in a drunken, high-speed crash will spend at least another two months behind bars after his case was heard in court without him needing to appear. Rhys Bellinge is charged with manslaughter over the death of Elizabeth Pearce, 24, in the horror smash in Dalkeith last month. He is also charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm after her Uber driver Muhammad Usman, 25, was critically injured. Dr Bellinge was treated for spinal injuries at Royal Perth Hospital, refused bail when he appeared in court in a hospital bedside hearing, then transferred to the infirmary at the maximum-security Casuarina Prison, wearing a back brace. His lawyer Tony Hager had proposed strict bail conditions including a 24-hour curfew at his father’s multi-million dollar mansion on Jutland Parade and a $1 million surety from his family. But after seeing dash cam footage from his Jaguar — allegedly showing him reach speeds of up to 130kph, laugh, yell profanities and prompt other road users to pull to the kerb — Magistrate Clare Cullen found the risk to the community was too great. On Wednesday, Dr Bellinge’s matter was briefly heard in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court, where he was not required to attend via videolink or otherwise. It’s accordingly not publicly known if he remains in Casuarina’s infirmary — where prisoners whose mental state presents a risk to themselves are kept. The case was adjourned by prior consent between the parties, with the State prosecutor saying police needed more time to provide disclosure. Defence counsel also need time to take instructions and provide advice, she said. The case will return to the same court for mention only on May 28. It comes after the discharge of Pakistan-born Mr Usman from hospital last week. He had been placed in an induced coma and was fighting for life for several days, with broken legs and a fractured hand. A GoFundMe campaign saying he faces “a long, challenging road to recovery”, and revealing he was also a disability support worker, has so far raised more than $114,000. Dr Bellinge - who could be heard crying on the audio link during the bail hearing - has not entered pleas to the two charges and a third charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. A preliminary blood alcohol test allegedly read 0.183 — almost four times the legal limit. If he tries to secure bail again after the initial refusal, he must demonstrate that new facts have arisen, circumstances have changed or the case was not presented adequately at the first attempt. Police allege he lost control of his luxury car, causing it to travel on the wrong side of the road at speed before hitting Mr Usman’s Honda Jazz on Birdwood Parade. Dr Bellinge was allegedly driving from the home of his estranged wife on The Avenue, Nedlands, to the home of his billionaire father — a distance of 1.5km — when he crashed. He was an obstetrician at Concept Obstetrics and Gynaecology before he was charged, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. The Medical Board of Australia suspended his medical registration earlier this month. Donations are also being taken for the Elizabeth Pearce Marine Science Fund, set up by her parents in her honour. Ms Pearce was about to start a research project as part of her Master of Marine Science at the University of WA. To donate, visit https://www.uwa.edu.au/oceans-institute.