Kiena Dawes' death has "paved the way" for more abusers to be held accountable over their victims' deaths, a legal expert says. The mum-of-one took her life after a two-year campaign of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of thug Ryan Wellings. Branded a "clear danger to women" by a prosecutor on Thursday, Welling was jailed for six years after being convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour.
He was the first person to be tried for manslaughter where a domestic abuse victim took their life, but 30-year-old Wellings was acquitted of causing Kiena's death. The 23-year-old died by suicide at a railway line in 2022, leaving a note which blamed Wellings for her death.
One legal expert says Kiena's legacy could pave the way for more families getting justice after losing loved ones to suicide following domestic abuse. Criminal law academic Dr Kirsty Welsh said it was "disappointing" not to see the first manslaughter conviction, but added that it was "encouraging" to see him prosecuted for the serious charge.
"It is to be welcomed that Ryan Wellings was charged with manslaughter," said Dr Welsh, a senior lecturer at Nottingham Law School. "Whilst it is disappointing that the jury was not convinced that there was a causal link between his abuse of Kiena Dawes and her eventual suicide, is it very encouraging that the CPS chose to bring the case against him.
"The defence made much of Kiena’s previous suicide attempts and this might have been why the jury could not be sure that it was the abuse that had led her to take her own life. As people understand more about coercive control, juries in future cases will surely be more able to see how abusers like Wellings operate.
