Court Hears Alleged Abuse Linked to Woman’s Suicide

Testimony presented in court suggested that a susceptible young woman might not have ended her life had she received “loving” treatment. Kiena Dawes, aged 23, was discovered deceased by British Transport Police on a railway track in Barnacre, close to Garstang, Lancashire, in July 2022. Preston Crown Court was informed that the hairdresser, who resided in Fleetwood, died by suicide following years of alleged abuse by her partner, Ryan Wellings, 30, who refutes these allegations as well as a manslaughter charge. Ms Dawes, who possessed a history of delicate mental health, left a note stating, “I was murdered” and that her partner, Mr Wellings, had “killed me,” according to court proceedings. On the morning of 22 July 2022, Ms Dawes entrusted her nine-month-old daughter to a friend before traveling approximately thirty minutes by car to the railway, where she ended her life, as presented to the jury. Prosecutors asserted that Mr Wellings’ purported violence was employed to “grind” Ms Dawes down. Dr. Nicholas Kennedy, a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness for the prosecution, testified to the court: “My opinion is that if Mr Wellings acted as alleged, it had a significant impact on her over time and it contributed to the suicide.” Paul Greaney KC questioned the witness: “If she had been treated in an appropriate, loving way, do you think she still would have killed herself?” Dr. Kennedy responded: “I think at least, probably not.” He indicated that several elements had made a “more than minimal contribution” to Ms Dawes’ choice to end her life. These factors included her pre-existing emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), a decline in her mental well-being, the defendant’s alleged abuse, the purported assault by Mr Wellings on her 11 days prior to her death, and the anniversary of her father’s passing, as heard in court. The defense for Mr. Wellings contends that Ms. Dawes’ allegations against him were either false or overstated, and any injuries she sustained before her death resulted from his efforts to restrain her or were accidental. John Jones KC, representing Wellings, outlined Ms. Dawes’ mental health background, mentioning school counseling, a diagnosis of anxiety and depression, alcohol abuse, self-harm, and hospitalizations. Seena Fazel, a professor of forensic psychiatry at Oxford University and an expert witness for the defense, stated that individuals with EUPD are nine times more prone to suicide compared to the general populace. Professor Fazel explained that suicide stems from a combination of risk factors and cannot be attributed to a solitary cause. He enumerated several risk factors pertinent to Ms. Dawes’ situation, encompassing “historical” elements like previous suicide attempts, a challenging upbringing, and family health issues, alongside factors such as the alleged domestic violence by Mr. Wellings and the anniversary of her father’s death. Professor Fazel further commented: “I think they contributed together, and its very difficult to isolate one from the other.” Mr. Jones inquired about the part played by Wellings’ alleged violence and controlling or coercive behavior in Ms. Dawes’ suicide. Professor Fazel responded: “I don’t know, partly because her mental state seemed to fluctuate.” He continued: “It’s difficult to know how to put it all together, it’s quite complicated, there’s many things going on at the same time.” He concluded: “I think there’s a number of factors that combined.” The proceedings are ongoing. For those impacted by this account or seeking assistance, organizations providing help and information are available via the BBC Action Line. The finest of BBC Radio Lancashire can be heard on Sounds, and BBC Lancashire can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story suggestions can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and through Whatsapp at 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.