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Case Overview
Perth obstetrician Rhys Henry Stone Bellinge has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of reckless and dangerous driving committed just days before a high-speed crash that killed 24-year-old Elizabeth Pearce in February 2024.
The 46-year-old doctor had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm over the fatal collision, in which his Jaguar sedan struck a rideshare vehicle in Dalkeith. The passenger, Ms Pearce, died at the scene, and the driver, Muhammad Usman, sustained serious injuries.
Prosecutors previously told the court that Bellinge was travelling at 130 kilometres per hour in a 50 km/h zone at the time of the fatal crash.
“Rhys Henry Stone Bellinge had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm over the February crash.” — ABC News
Court Details
- Hearing Date: Monday, 6 October 2025
- Court: Perth Magistrates Court, Western Australia
- Defendant: Dr Rhys Henry Stone Bellinge, 46, of Perth, obstetrician
- Status: In custody, appearing by video link from Casuarina Prison
Charges and Pleas
- Pleaded Guilty To:
- One count of dangerous driving (Kings Park)
- Two counts of reckless driving (Subiaco and Kings Park)
- Charges Withdrawn:
- Reckless driving in Nedlands
- Reckless driving in Dalkeith (both alleged to have occurred on 9 February 2024)
Background to the Fatal Crash
Bellinge’s earlier charges relate to a high-speed crash in Dalkeith on February 12, 2024, when his Jaguar collided with a rideshare vehicle. Passenger Elizabeth Pearce, 24, was killed, and driver Muhammad Usman suffered serious injuries.
At the time, Bellinge was allegedly speeding at 130 km/h in a 50 km/h residential zone. Police and prosecutors described his driving as “grossly dangerous” and “utterly reckless.”
The newly admitted charges from February 9, 2024, reveal that Bellinge was already driving recklessly in the days leading up to the fatal crash, including incidents in Kings Park and Subiaco.
“Bellinge has admitted driving his Jaguar sedan dangerously and recklessly days before the crash.” — ABC News
Sentencing and Next Steps
- Sentencing for manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm is scheduled for **24 February 2026** in the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
- Magistrates Court proceedings on the dangerous and reckless driving charges will likely be considered concurrent with the primary sentencing.
Community and Legal Impact
The case has drawn significant public attention due to Bellinge’s profession and the preventable nature of the crash. The court heard that his dangerous driving behaviour occurred repeatedly in the days before the fatality, underscoring the deliberate recklessness of his actions. The tragedy has sparked renewed calls for tougher penalties for repeat dangerous drivers.
Victim Acknowledgment
Elizabeth Pearce, a 24-year-old rideshare passenger, has been remembered as a vibrant and much-loved woman. Her death prompted widespread community grief, and her family has called for accountability and stronger deterrence measures for dangerous drivers.