Rhys Bellinge: Fatal crash accused doctor hit with new charges over incident before Elizabeth Pearce’s death

An obstetrician accused of killing a young woman in a drunken high-speed crash has been charged over allegations he drove at more than double the speed limit and on the wrong side of the road less than a week before the fatal collision. Rhys Bellinge is charged with manslaughter over the death of Elizabeth Pearce, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to her Uber driver Muhammad Usman and driving under the influence in Dalkeith in February. The West Australian can reveal police have also recently charged Dr Bellinge with four new serious driving offences, a count of dangerous driving and three counts of reckless driving by exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h or more. The charges relate to allegations that six days before the deadly Dalkeith crash, at 8.05pm on February 9, Dr Bellinge was speeding at 119km/h in a 70km/h zone on Thomas Street in Subiaco. Five minutes later, police allege his car reached speeds of 112km/h in a 70km/h zone on Winthrop Avenue in Nedlands. And at 8.30pm, it is alleged he travelled at 103km/h in a 50km/h zone on Victoria Avenue in Dalkeith. And within that same 25 minutes, Dr Bellinge allegedly drove on the wrong side of the road in Kings Park. A bail hearing in February was told it was dashcam from Dr Bellinge’s luxury Jaguar that recorded him allegedly speeding and driving erratically that night. Prosecutors had alleged he had also made several “angry rants” about his estranged wife. Dr Bellinge is due to face Perth Magistrates Court on June 5 on the new charges, with a court date set for next week regarding the existing charges. Police allege he killed Ms Pearce, 24, when he lost control of his Jaguar, causing it to travel on the wrong side of the road at speed before hitting a Honda Jazz operating as a rideshare vehicle on Birdwood Parade on February 15. Dr Bellinge was allegedly driving from the home of his estranged wife on The Avenue, Nedlands, to the home of his millionaire father Bruce Bellinge on Jutland Parade — a distance of 1.5km — when he crashed. Mr Usman, who was behind the wheel of the Honda, was left in a coma with two broken legs and a broken arm. His passenger, Ms Pearce, did not survive her injuries. Last month, a court was told that a preliminary test taken on Dr Bellinge recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.183 — almost four times the legal limit. Police also allege Dr Bellinge, who is from one of Perth’s richest families, reached speeds of 130km/h before the fatal impact. He was refused bail and after being discharged from Royal Perth Hospital, where he was treated for spinal injuries, he was taken to Casuarina Prison’s infirmary.