A motorist who hit a pedestrian and left him for dead instructed his partner to lie to police in a bid to keep his driving licence, a court has heard.

Peter Leslie Chilcott called police on September 15, 2013 claiming he had seen a news report on television and suspected he had hit renowned athletics coach Thomas Kelly while driving in Mt Evelyn earlier that day, but had thought at the time he hit an animal.

The County Court heard on Thursday that Chilcott actually hit Mr Kelly the previous night as he and his partner returned from a party, but chose not to assist the 80-year-old, who suffered rib and pelvic fractures and internal bleeding.

Mr Kelly's body was discovered by a passing motorist about 7.10am, having been hit about 11 hours earlier. The time of his death is not known.

Prosecutor Diana Manova said listening devices in Chilcott's Croydon home in January of last year heard he and his de facto partner, Lorraine Mary Morris, discuss the lies they told police.