Ryan Wellings, 30, has gone on trial accused of her manslaughter after Kiena left a suicide note saying he “killed” her following controlling, violent and coercive behaviour
A man accused of killing a young mum conducted a “campaign of abuse” that led to her taking her own life - with her suicide note naming him as her killer, a jury has heard.
Kiena Dawes 23, went missing in July 2022 after leaving her nine-month-old daughter with a friend in Fleetwood, Lancashire. Relatives raised the alarm after she failed to return.
She drove 17 miles to Barnacre, where she parked near a railway line. Preston Crown Court heard how the mother-of-one lay down on the tracks before being struck and killed by a Glasgow-bound train.
Her former fiancé Ryan Wellings, 30, has gone on trial accused of her manslaughter after Kiena left a suicide note saying he “killed” her.
The prosecution allege that he took advantage of her mental health problems and subjected her to controlling and coercive behaviour and was violent and abusive towards her.
This abuse was a “significant factor” in Kiena’s decision to take her own life, it’s claimed, with Welling’s last attack coming just 11 days before she died.
The jury heard about a suicide note Kiena left on her phone, which read: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. went through pain no one could imagine. No one will know what I went through.
“I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till there was nothing left. I lost my fight but I didn’t give up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.”
The note also said, “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster” and that she wanted her daughter “kept away from the monster who is called her dad”.
Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told the jury: “The predominant thrust of what Kiena was saying in her suicide note was that Ryan Wellings, the defendant in this trial, was responsible for her death.
“Kiena’s own words, ‘Ryan Wellings killed me’ represent the prosecution’s case, namely that the death of Kiena Dawes was caused by the unlawful acts of Ryan Wellings and that he is therefore guilty of her manslaughter.”
He said that the suicide note was a “significant piece of evidence” but it wasn’t the sole or even principal basis of the prosecution’s case as Wellings had subjected her to controlling and coercive behaviour and had treated her in an “abusive way” and repeatedly physically assaulted her.
Mr Greaney said Kiena had a personality disorder that can result in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulties in relationships and Wellings “exploited this vulnerability”.
The jury heard about a series of incidents in which Wellings allegedly abused Kiena, some of which she made notes about on her phone.
The couple had met in January 2020 and Mr Greaney told the jury that Welling’s abuse had begun early in their relationship and there was “pattern” in which he behaved in an “aggressive and violent” way towards her and “then apologised and showered her with affection”.
They had lived together for a time in Dorset when, it’s claimed, Wellings had tried to “strangle” her with an iPhone charger and, in another incident, thrown a stool at her and thrown her to the ground, causing her to slash her foot on broken glass.
Mr Greaney said the abuse had continued when the couple moved to Blackpool and Kiena later contacted police and reported that Wellings had given her a “black eye” while she was pregnant.
The jury also heard phone messages she sent to Wellings in which she accused him of “terrorising” her. “You’re a head f*** and you know it will ruin me,” she also wrote. You’re a bully.”
Wellings, of Bispham, Lancashire, denies charges of controlling and coercive behaviour, assault and manslaughter.
The jury heard that he will claim his relationship with hairdresser Kiena was a “loving” one, she had injured herself, and he didn’t accept his conduct caused her death, while her underlying mental health issues may have caused her to take her own life.
The trial continues.