Thug CLEARED of manslaughter after ex wrote ‘I was murdered’ before taking her own life – but is guilty of abuse
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A TWISTED fiance has been cleared of manslaughter after his ex wrote "I was murdered" in a final note before taking her own life but was convicted of abuse. Kiena Dawes, 23, also said her former partner Ryan Wellings, 30, had "killed me" before she died on a railway track in Lancashire.
![[Woman in black dress at a restaurant.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/copyright-ben-lack-photography-ltd-797521812_edf3c3.jpg?strip=all&w=656)
The mum had been repeatedly subjected to controlling and coercive behaviour at her ex's hands. Wellings violently abused Kiena during their two year relationship - including once telling her: "Hitting you is like hitting a man". He also attacked her in front of their baby daughter just 11 days before she ended her own life.
![[Mugshot of Ryan Wellings.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Ryan-Wellings.jpg?strip=all&w=480)
The thug has now been found cleared of manslaughter following a harrowing trial but was convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault. Preston Crown Court heard the couple had been in an "intense" relationship for two years that was plagued by abuse.
![[Woman with bloody face injuries.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/6.-Injury-photos-of-Kiena-Dawes-from-the-assault-that-took-place-on-11th-July-2022-image-1.jpg?strip=all&w=476)
Kiena had been diagnosed with an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, which caused increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships. Instead of caring for his partner, Wellings, who was previously convicted of battering his ex-girlfriend, exploited her condition - eventually driving the mum to suicide.
![[Close-up photo of a woman's face showing injuries from an assault.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/6.-Injury-photos-of-Kiena-Dawes-from-the-assault-that-took-place-on-11th-July-2022-image-6.jpg?strip=all&w=873)
He would accuse Kiena of sleeping with other people, branded her a "s**g", threw a stool at her and told her to kill herself. On one occasion, Wellings dunked her head in the bath and told her: "Say goodbye to your baby". He also said he would "make her look like Katie Piper" by throwing acid in her face and threatened to use a drill to take her teeth out.
![[Blood spatter on a hallway floor.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/b6a8cc4f-e601-4d7b-a25d-8a59b6caa6e8.jpg?strip=all&w=535)
