A doctor who killed a young woman in a high-speed crash while almost four times over the legal alcohol limit has pleaded guilty.
Perth obstetrician Rhys Henry Stone Bellinge, 45, today admitted the manslaughter of Elizabeth Pearce on February 15.
The 24-year-old was an Uber passenger in a Honda Jazz hatchback struck by Bellinge’s blue Jaguar sedan in Perth’s leafy riverside suburb of Dalkeith.
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The father of two also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol over the injuries to Muhammad Usman.
The 25-year-old Uber driver suffered two broken legs and arm injuries in the collision.
Bellinge, who has reportedly struggled in custody while on remand, appeared via video-link from Casuarina maximum-security prison.
Wearing a prison-issued green tracksuit, Bellinge was sullen as he confirmed he understood the charges before entering a guilty plea to each charge in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court.
A charge of driving under the influence of alcohol was discontinued by the court at the prosecution’s request.
Bellinge’s wealthy father Bruce Bellinge was in the court to hear his son’s pleas.
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The court was previously told Bellinge had been drinking while watching football on television at his father’s home before he climbed into his high-powered car and attempted to drive home about 10pm.
Dashcam footage showed Bellinge’s car reached a speed of about 130km/h before the driver lost control, crossed to the wrong side of the road and collided with the Honda.
Pearce later died in hospital from her injuries.
Bellinge allegedly had a blood alcohol reading of 0.183 and was recorded apologising after the crash at the scene.
He suffered spinal injuries in the incident and had been experiencing “mental upset” following his recent marriage breakdown.
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Other dashcam footage previously played to the court showed Bellinge driving at speeds above 100km/h in a 40km/h zone days before the crash that killed Pearce.
Bellinge also allegedly recorded yelling vitriolic profanities about his estranged wife on the night of the crash and in another recording.
He was denied bail during a hospital bed court hearing in the weeks after Pearce was killed, and could be heard crying and sobbing over an audio link.
Bellinge will return to Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow for three counts of reckless driving while exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h and one count of dangerous driving related to his conduct in the days leading up to the crash that killed Pearce.
He will return to Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on February 24 for a committal mention ahead of sentencing for the manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm charges.
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