A Perth obstetrician charged with killing a woman in a drunken high-speed crash tried to blame the other driver, a court has been told.
A decision on Rhys Bellinge’s application for bail was delayed again today as, away from the court, floral tributes grew for Elizabeth Pearce, the masters student killed in the Saturday night Dalkeith crash.
The court was told police body cam footage showed him trying to “shift the blame”.
“Wait a minute, they came out of nowhere, why the f— am I the bad guy? I only had two beers,” he says.
Police also submitted more dashcam footage from the weeks leading up to the collision between the 45-year-old’s blue Jaguar and the Honda Jazz carrying Pearce.
The renowned obstetrician was allegedly heard in “numerous angry rants” about his estranged wife, “even while sober”, heightening prosecutors’ concern for her.
The court heard if he was bailed, Ballinge’s family could put up a million-dollar surety – with one possibility being home detention on Perth’s richest street, just up the road from the crash.
Tributes flowed for 24-year-old Pearce, who was killed just minutes from her parents’ home.
“It’s just so sad and a big loss,” Pearce’s friend Taia Rodgers said.
Friends and former classmates today visited the scene of the crash, sharing precious memories of the UWA student.
“Just having playdates at her house – she would always check in on you and was just lovely,” Rodgers said.
“Everyone who knew Elizabeth was happier for it.”
Even strangers were overcome by grief.
“[It] could have been me a few years ago, could have been my friends – yeah, it’s just thoughtless,” Dalkeith resident Will Turner said.
“I felt incredibly sad, angry,” Philippa Brown said.
“He’s a doctor – we’re supposed to be respected members of the community.”
The Uber driver is facing a long recovery, suffering leg and arm fractures with at least two more surgeries required.
