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9 News
17 hours ago
- 9 News
Perth doctor pleads guilty over drunken high-speed crash that killed young woman
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here 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. A doctor who killed a young woman in a high-speed crash while almost four times over the legal alcohol limit has pleaded guilty. (9News) 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. Elizabeth Pearce was killed in a crash just minutes from her parents' home. (9News) 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. Rhys Bellinge will return to Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow. (9News) 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. courts Perth Western Australia national Australia crime crashes CONTACT US
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- News.com.au
Good Samaritans intervene attempted carjacking in Melbourne
An attempted daylight carjacking has ended in tears for a would-be thief who was chased away by a group of bystanders in Melbourne. A video shared to social media showed a man in a hooded jumper and track pants attempting to steal a black Mercedes sedan on Swan St in Richmond on Tuesday before 5pm. The offender could be seen in the driver's seat with the door open, while two men tried to pull him out, with another good Samaritan on the passenger side. One of the bystanders – dressed in high-vis – was armed with a golf putter. The wannabe robber was able to start the luxury car, which was owned by a woman, and could be heard revving the parked Mercedes near Richmond Train Station. 'I don't know where you're going mate, there's a car in front of you,' one of the bystanders said, after a white vehicle pulled in front of the Mercedes to block it. 'No, no, stop it. Get out!' another yelled out. The man ran about 20 metres trying to shield his identity with his hoodie. He then jumped into a white Nissan Navara ute that was driven by a suspected accomplice who was waiting on the road nearby. One passer-by caught up and tried to stop him from getting in the car. The would-be thief was barely inside the ute – and at one point almost fell out – before it ran a red light where dozens of pedestrians were crossing. Witness Levi Rattray-Wood told the Herald Sun the woman was taking a bike to a nearby shop when the man jumped into the car. He said about 15 passers-by noticed what happened and swarmed the car within 30 seconds, spending about three minutes trying to stop the man. 'He just went straight for her bag and that's when she realised... I saw the bigger gentleman grab the woman and another bloke was punched in the face,' Mr Rattray-Wood said. 'It was really good in that aspect. It was quite amazing to see so many people happy to help out. They put themselves on the line.' The video was sent in a by a listener to 3AW host Jacqui Felgate who shared it on Instagram. Many users praised the bystanders for assisting the woman. 'Normal day in 2025 Melbourne… good on those good people that stepped in,' one woman wrote. 'Honestly people are getting tired and they will take the law into their own hands. Good on those who helped,' another added. 'Not all superheroes wear capes,' a third social media user said. Others questioned Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her government for not coming down harder on crime, saying the city of Melbourne is being 'destroyed'. In a statement to Victoria Police said detectives from the Yarra Crime Investigation Unit is looking into the incident that left one bystander injured. 'It is understood a man approached a woman on Swan Street about 4.50pm,' a spokeswoman said in a statement. 'The man attempted to steal the woman's Mercedes sedan before passers-by intervened. 'The offender was last seen fleeing the scene southbound on Cremorne Street in a white Nissan Navara ute with Victorian Registration 1OL9CF.' The man has not been caught and police are seeking public assistance. He is 'perceived to be' of Pacific Islander appearance, about 180 centimetres tall, aged in his mid to late 20s, with a solid build, police added. Anyone with information about the Richmond carjacking on Tuesday can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000. Car-related crime rising The number of carjackings and vehicle thefts have climbed in recent years. Authorities say this is because criminals are using electronic devices – capable of unlocking vehicles – to break into cars. The crimes don't stop at adults and extends to children. Police said earlier this year that 330 'hardened young offenders' had been caught by cops three times of more for serious incidents such as break and enter and stealing cars. According to the Crime Statistic Agency, there were 24,112 reports of stolen vehicles – or 66 a day – across Victoria in the year ending March 2025. In one terrifying incident, a woman had stopped to help a group of five teens who had crashed on a Melbourne freeway when they turned on her. Police alleged two of the juveniles wrestled her car keys out of her hand and fled. The woman, who only wanted to help, suffered minor injuries. About a week earlier, a 66-year-old woman was left in a serious condition as she tried to stop a man from stealing her car at Casey Hospital in Berwick, southeast of Melbourne. The thief was arrested later, some 53 kilometres from the scene of the crime. They found he had no residential address. The 25-year-old was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving causing serious injuring unlicensed driving, reckless conduct endangering life, and failing to render assistance.
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Perth Now
New detail in NRL star's mum's crash case
Lawyers for an NRL star's mother, who is charged with killing three people in a horror triple-fatal crash, are seeking further evidence from her mobile phone applications they say are important to their case. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua is due to stand trial in the Supreme Court on three counts of manslaughter stemming from a devastating crash in Bonogin, in the Gold Coast hinterland region, in December 2022. Police allege Ms Taufua was driving a black 2017 Mercedes wagon when it collided with another car just before 5pm on December 30 that year. Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer's 35-year-old daughter Steffanie were in a silver Mercedes when it was knocked from the road into a power pole from the force of the collision. All three died. Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua is facing three counts of manslaughter over a horror triple-fatal crash in the Gold Coast hinterland in 2022. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Taufua was the sole survivor of the two-car collision in Bonogin on December 30, 2022. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Taufua, the mother of Broncos forward Payne Haas, was the sole survivor. On Wednesday, Brisbane Supreme Court was told an interstate psychiatrist had seen Ms Taufua since the last adjournment and a report was being prepared in relation to the charges. Family members of the Zimmer family were seated in the public gallery to watch the proceedings. Defence barrister Martin Longhurst said another four weeks would be required due to the need for 'objective evidence' to be obtained from applications on Ms Taufua's phone. Mr Longhurst said the family was attempting to obtain backups from the phone's iCloud to hand over to the psychiatrist. He said he had not received instructions regarding the delay over the issue with the phone applications. Justice Lincoln Crowley reminded him a form for such a request still needed to be submitted a day before the review – necessitating an adjournment application instead. 'That's not necessarily your obligation to do that … (it's the) solicitor with carriage of the matter,' Justice Crowley said. Mr Longhurst asked the court to set a date for the submissions on the report in three months. 'I have instructions that Ms Taufua wishes to engage King's Counsel to settle the submission,' he said. Steffanie and Susan Zimmer died in the crash. Supplied Credit: Supplied Chris Fawcett also died. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'The factual basis advanced by the brief (of evidence) isn't particularly complex, it really is a submission based on the psychiatric evidence.' The Crown prosecutor called the length of time 'unacceptably long' and submitted it could have been done earlier. An indictment in the Supreme Court was presented back in March. Justice Crowley ordered the submissions on the report be delivered by October 16 before adjourning the matter to the same date for a further review. Ms Taufua remains in custody on remand. She was committed to stand trial on the charges following a committal hearing in Southport Magistrates Court in November last year. Ms Taufua is facing three counts of manslaughter over the crash and has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court. Supplied / 9 News Credit: Supplied Claudine Snow said her mum had a 'magic smile'. NewsWire / Nigel Hallett Credit: NCA NewsWire Supporters of the victims' families and Ms Taufua's own family packed out the court as she waved and smiled to her group in the public gallery. Asked by magistrate Jane Bentley if she wanted to say anything in response to the committal, Ms Taufua answered 'No, Your Honour'. There were 34 witness statements tendered to the court. In a memorial to her sister and mother in early 2023, Claudine Snow said growing up with Susan and Steffanie was like 'the three amigos'. She remembered her mum always having a 'magic smile' despite her tough upbringing. 'Susan endures many obstacles but possessed immense talent and an even fiercer resolve,' Ms Snow said to the packed crowd at Bill Deacon Pavilion at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds.
