Kiena Dawes' mother expresses regret for not securing justice after her fiancé, Ryan Wellings, was found not guilty of manslaughter. Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive control for two years of abuse leading to Dawes' suicide.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-supportThe mother of a 'beautiful' woman who killed herself after enduring years of sickening abuse from her fiancé today apologised to her late daughter for failing to get 'justice' after he was cleared of manslaughter.
He was the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after her suicide following domestic violence, but was found not guilty at Preston Crown Court. Kiena Dawes , 23, went missing from her home in Fleetwood, Lancashire, on July 22, 2022 before taking her own life
In an emotional statement surrounded by family, she added: 'I'm finding it almost impossible to put it into words just how big of an impact losing Kiena has been on all the family, her beautiful baby girl and all of her friends. 'I cannot put it into words just how much it breaks my heart that her beautiful baby girl doesn't have her mummy here because of that monster.
Kiena Dawes and her mother Angela are pictured in happier times. Kiena's mother gave a heartbreaking statement outside of court after the verdict Kiena Dawes took her own life on July 22, 2022, after leaving the couple's nine-month-old daughter with a friend This last assault was the, 'straw that broke the camels back,' the trial of Wellings heard, who denied manslaughter, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Ms Dawes was also told by police to take down a Facebook post, not naming Wellings, but detailing the domestic violence she alleged she had suffered. Advertisement He was arrested for assault but bailed on condition he did not contact her, which he did. The prosecution claimed that Wellings took advantage of Ms Dawes's vulnerability - on account of issues with her mental health - and was repeatedly violent and abusive towards her.
They suggested that descriptions of the landscape gardener's behaviours by her had been either inaccurate, untrue or exaggerated. 'This corrosive and destructive combination was to bring heartache to them both, and death to one,' Mr Jones told the jury.'We know that. They did not know or appreciate it at the time, that's the point.
During the trial, jurors were told that after being charged with manslaughter, Wellings downed a bottle of prosecco and went on a cocaine binge before recording a vile video taunting Ms Dawes' grieving family. But friends of Ms Dawes said the 'fairytale' relationship soon 'turned into a nightmare', with Wellings violently attacking her while she was pregnant.
From that point she stopped taking her medication and her mental health took a 'downturn', she later said in an unsigned police statement. The court heard a 'pattern' developed of Wellings being 'aggressive and violent' before 'showering' Ms Dawes with affection. Wellings said when his relationship with Ms Dawes was good it was 'perfect', but it was bad at times a result of their 'party lifestyle'The mother and girlfriend of Ryan Wellings, convicted of abusing his partner Kiena Dawes before she took her own life, are both under police investigation for allegedly 'coaching' him to give evidence.
Mr Greaney told the court: 'He has repeatedly discussed the content and nature of the evidence with Emma Croft and Lisa Green, during giving evidence and over the Christmas period. Judge Altham banned both from entering court until verdicts were returned and only if they agreed to hand over their phones.
During the argument, Wellings demanded that Ms Dawes return the engagement ring he had given her then threw it out of the window. It did not connect, but Ms Dawes called the number back, then dialled 999 saying Wellings had been on the other end 'threatening her', only to be told that the call did not amount to a breach of his bail conditions.
The defendant said he was sleep-deprived and had downed bottles of prosecco and taken drugs at the time but maintained he uploaded the video to Facebook by accident and later deleted it.He pointed out she did not blame her family for her death, writing: 'I will always love my family. I love them unconditionally.''She says you killed her in that note, just hours before she took her own life.
Julia Dwyer, Head of Services at Refuge, said: 'Refuge is devastated by the death of Kiena Dawes in 2022. Kiena faced horrific abuse and violence perpetrated by Ryan Wellings, found not guilty of manslaughter but convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour. In light of today's conviction, we remain steadfast in our position that there is an undeniable link between domestic abuse and suicide.
Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Heartbreaking moment mother dropped her baby off at a friend's house before taking her own life 'While these figures alone are truly harrowing, we expect these to represent the tip of the iceberg as deaths caused by domestic abuse continue to be severely under-reported. 'He isolated Kiena, belittled and abused her, controlled her, subjected her to violence and made her believe that she would never escape him.
'Although today's headlines will understandably be about Ryan Wellings and today's verdict, I don't want Kiena, the victim, to get lost or forgotten about. Kiena was a fun-loving, kind and sensitive young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She was a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend who died in extremely tragic circumstances.'
Mar – after the first Covid lockdown is imposed, Wellings and Ms Dawes move in with Ms Anderson and the twins in Blackpool – only for Ms Dawes to move in with a friend in Dorset a week later. July 20th – couple move back to Blackpool, with Ms Dawes distraught to learn en route that her beloved father Russell has died.
Aug 4 – Ms Dawes calls police again to say she and Wellings have split up and he is trying to take property from the flat. Bodyworn footage shows her telling an officer he has been threatening and assaulting her. She makes a witness statement detailing the abuse but does not sign it, saying she fears she won't be believed due to her mental health problems. Wellings is arrested on suspicion of assault but declines to answer any questions. The relationship resumes.
July 17 – Ms Dawes dials 999, saying she had a missed call from Wellings' ex, Ms Anderson, but that when she called it back, Wellings threatened her. However police concluded he hadn't breached his bail. The following day they advised her to take down her Facebook post, leaving her feeling 'unsupported by the police', jurors were told.
The same day he sends her mother a video of himself in a car shouting over music: 'Angela Dawes you need to take the blame for abandoning your daughter and going off to Greece you f******…'
Domestic Violence DOMESTIC ABUSE SUICIDE MANSLLAUGHTER TRIAL JUSTICE
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