Tragic young mother’s relationship ‘recipe for disaster’, court told
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A young mother’s relationship with her partner was a “recipe for disaster” – but he is not guilty of driving her to suicide through domestic violence, a jury was told. Ryan Wellings, 30, denies the manslaughter of Kiena Dawes, 23, after he allegedly subjected her to continued violence and abuse, Preston Crown Court has heard.
Hairdresser Ms Dawes, from Fleetwood, Lancashire, wrote in a suicide note: “I was murdered”, and that Wellings had “killed me”. Shortly after writing the note on her phone, she left it alongside their eight-month-old daughter with a friend before taking her own life on July 22 2022, after two years of alleged domestic abuse and violence.
The trial, now in its sixth week, has heard that almost from the beginning of their relationship, Wellings repeatedly subjected Ms Dawes to controlling and coercive behaviour, abuse and violence over a prolonged period to “grind” her down. Ms Dawes had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder – resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, jurors heard.
But Wellings allegedly exploited her mental health condition, jurors heard, and while the condition played a part in her decision to take her own life, so too did his abuse, including a final assault which left her in hospital 11 days before she took her own life.
Paul Greaney KC told jurors the evidence showed Wellings to be an entitled, aggressive bully, responsible for Ms Dawes’ death. But John Jones KC, in his closing speech for the defence, said the couple’s “party lifestyle” of alcohol and drugs was a “recipe for disaster”.
