Mother’s Death: Partner on Trial for Manslaughter After Abuse Allegations

Messages sent by Kiena Dawes, a 23-year-old vulnerable mother who died by suicide, stated to her partner, “I’m sick of you hitting me.” Ms. Dawes passed away on a railway line in July 2022, following what is alleged to be years of abuse by her partner, Ryan Wellings, who is currently facing a trial for her manslaughter. Preston Crown Court heard testimony that Mr. Wellings had Ms. Dawes’ name tattooed on his neck within a week of their initial meeting and had exhibited violence towards the Fleetwood mother-of-one throughout their relationship. Mr. Wellings, 30, from Bispham, Lancashire, has entered pleas of not guilty to charges of manslaughter, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour. On Tuesday, the proceedings revealed that Ms. Dawes had left a note stating she “was murdered” and had been “tortured… until there was nothing left.” The defence for Mr. Wellings has contended that Ms. Dawes’ allegations were either false or overstated, and that any injuries she sustained prior to her death resulted from his efforts to restrain her or were accidental. Prosecutors informed the jury, composed of seven women and five men, that Mr. Wellings employed violence to “grind” down Ms. Dawes, leading her to take her own life. During the second day of the trial, Kacie Valentine, Ms. Dawes’ best friend, was questioned regarding conversations she had with her friend about her relationship with Mr. Wellings. Ms. Valentine testified that she found it “weird” that Mr. Wellings had obtained a tattoo of Ms. Dawes’ name on his neck shortly after their initial acquaintance. The court was informed that Ms. Valentine subsequently learned that Ms. Dawes, a hairdresser, had ended her relationship with Mr. Wellings and relocated to live with a friend in Dorset, where she was “back to her normal self.” However, Ms. Valentine later received a photograph from Ms. Dawes displaying a ring on her finger and found out that Mr. Wellings had proposed to her on a beach with a banner reading, “Will you marry me?” The jury was told that Ms. Dawes had accepted the proposal. Ms. Valentine informed the court that on approximately five separate occasions, Ms. Dawes had recounted instances of Mr. Wellings being violent towards her, resulting in injuries. These injuries, she stated, included a cut on her leg, bruises on her ribs, and a black eye. Ms. Valentine further testified that Ms. Dawes had conveyed to her that during these attacks, Mr. Wellings would tell her: “Hitting you is like hitting a man.” According to Ms. Valentine, her friend would occasionally stay at her residence because Mr. Wellings would “binge on drink and cocaine.” The jury was presented with messages from Ms. Dawes to Mr. Wellings, which stated: “Coke is what’s gone wrong. I can’t bring a baby up like that. I told you 100 times not to buy any more.” Ms. Dawes communicated to Mr. Wellings that the drugs rendered him “aggressive,” to which his message response was: “Come on. Sorry xx.” Ms. Dawes’ reply read: “No, I’m sick of you hitting me.” Earlier in the trial, John Jones KC, representing Mr. Wellings, informed the jury that any difficulties within their relationship were not the cause of Ms. Dawes’ decision to take her own life. He asserted that this decision stemmed from “multiple factors.” Mr. Jones stated: “That relationship had been loving, affectionate and otherwise good, but at times both difficult and stormy.” He added: “It is not part of my defence to raise any adverse comment or criticism against anyone.” Furthermore, he remarked: “Nothing I say is intended to adversely trespass on the memory of a young woman who apparently was almost universally loved and regarded with affection.” Mr. Jones also stated: “Kiena Dawes was a very troubled young lady.” He continued: “The evidence will reveal she had a long, troubled psychiatric history and had made several, some might say, determined attempts [to kill herself] in the past.” The trial is ongoing.