Perth Obstetrician Rhys Bellinge Jailed 10 Years 6 Months After 134kmh Drunk Crash Kills Elizabeth Pearce

A high-speed, alcohol-fueled drive through one of Perth’s wealthiest suburbs has ended with a decade-long prison term, after obstetrician Rhys Bellinge was sentenced to 10 years and six months for a crash that killed 24-year-old Elizabeth Pearce.

The WA Supreme Court heard Bellinge’s supercharged Jaguar reached speeds of up to 134 kilometres per hour on suburban streets in Dalkeith on February 15 last year before ploughing into a Honda Jazz carrying Ms Pearce as a rideshare passenger. Driver Muhammad Usman survived but suffered serious, life-changing injuries.

Justice Amanda Forrester described the conduct as reckless and sustained, telling Bellinge that through his “highly dangerous and reckless behaviour” he had stolen a young woman’s life. The judge said his actions showed aggression, contempt and a selfish disregard for other road users.

Alcohol Levels and Speed at the Centre of the Case

Prosecutors told the court Bellinge recorded a roadside breath test of 0.18, followed by a blood alcohol reading of 0.22. The level of intoxication, combined with the speed of the vehicle, formed the backbone of the Crown’s argument that the crash was not a momentary lapse but the foreseeable outcome of escalating risk.

Dashcam footage from inside the Jaguar, played in court, captured Bellinge shouting expletives and accelerating aggressively through residential streets in the minutes before impact. Some members of the public gallery left before the video concluded, while others were visibly distressed.

For detailed court reporting on the sentencing and footage presented, see coverage from ABC News.

Pattern of Dangerous Driving

The sentencing hearing also referenced earlier incidents days before the fatal crash. On February 9, Bellinge admitted to dangerous driving offences involving excessive speed and driving on the wrong side of the road in other parts of Perth. While alcohol use on that day could not be proven, prosecutors framed the behaviour as part of a broader pattern.

Justice Forrester said she was not convinced Bellinge had fully accepted responsibility, noting what she described as a degree of self-pity in correspondence sent to the victim’s family and the injured driver.

Parole Timeline and Professional Fallout

Bellinge pleaded guilty to manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. He will be eligible for parole after eight years and six months. Because the sentence was backdated, that places potential release in 2033, subject to parole approval.

He has already been suspended from practising medicine. His legal counsel told the court it would be extremely difficult for him to regain his medical licence, though he had nearly completed postgraduate studies in reproductive medicine prior to the crash.

The Human Toll

Outside court, Elizabeth Pearce’s father spoke of the lasting void left by her death. Flanked by family members, he reflected on a sentence that, while lengthy, cannot reverse what happened on a suburban road in seconds.

Muhammad Usman, who appeared in court using a cane, was described as suffering permanent physical injuries alongside ongoing psychological trauma. The court heard his recovery will be long-term and incomplete.

The case underscores the severe legal consequences attached to high-range drink driving combined with extreme speed. In financial terms, the cost to Bellinge includes the collapse of a medical career and years behind bars. In human terms, the loss is permanent.