The trial of Ryan Wellings, who is accused of the manslaughter of his former partner Kiena Dawes, has heard how the 23-year-old mother, from Fleetwood, Lancs, had struggled with her mental health for many years. Prosecutors allege that domestic abuse and violence from Wellings were contributing factors leading to Miss Dawes’ tragic death.
Miss Dawes, a hairdresser, tragically took her own life on July 22, 2022, after allegedly enduring years of abuse. Her final words, contained in a suicide note, read, “I was murdered” and that her former partner, 30-year-old Wellings, had “killed me”. Before her death, she had left her eight-month-old daughter with a friend and made her way to a railway line where she ended her life.
Defence lawyers for Wellings presented medical evidence detailing Miss Dawes’ extensive mental health struggles, which they claim predated her relationship with Wellings. Her medical history included frequent visits to hospital from the age of 13, alongside incidents of drug and alcohol abuse, repeated suicide attempts, and chronic mental health issues.
Miss Dawes had been scheduled for a psychiatric assessment on July 19, 2022, just three days before her death. However, it is unclear whether she was informed of the appointment and thus did not attend. This new appointment had been brought forward after a prior consultation revealed increasing concerns about her mental well-being.
Wellings, a landscape gardener from Bispham, Lancs, denies the manslaughter charge, as well as accusations of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour. The trial, now in its fifth week, has seen the prosecution present evidence of a “toxic” relationship, alleging that Wellings subjected Miss Dawes to severe abuse and violence, ultimately driving her to take her own life.
In a statement read to the court, Michelle Lloyd, a mental health nurse with Lancashire and Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, explained that Miss Dawes had first come into contact with local mental health services in March 2015, after reporting an overdose. She later self-referred in May 2019 due to suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder. This diagnosis, which often results in impulsivity, low self-esteem, and difficulty in maintaining relationships, was cited as a factor in her ongoing mental health struggles.
Furthermore, Miss Dawes had been hospitalised in a psychiatric facility at various points in her life, and her mental health deteriorated after she ceased her medication when she became pregnant. Prior to her death, she had reported feeling trapped in an abusive relationship, despite expressing her love for her daughter. Just three weeks before her death, Miss Dawes confided in a mental health professional that she was struggling with thoughts of suicide.
The court heard that an urgent psychiatric appointment for Miss Dawes had been scheduled for September, but it was brought forward to July 19. A voicemail informing her of the change was left on her phone, but there is no confirmation that she was aware of the rescheduled date. Tragically, she took her own life just three days later.
During the defence’s case, John Jones KC, representing Wellings, argued that while Miss Dawes had faced significant mental health challenges, the difficulties in her relationship with Wellings were not the cause of her decision to take her life. Jones claimed that her suicide was the result of “multiple factors” beyond the scope of their relationship, which had seen its own complexities from the outset.
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Miss Dawes met Wellings in January 2020, and the relationship initially progressed quickly. Within a week, Wellings had her name and face tattooed on his body, and he proposed marriage within three months. However, Miss Dawes confided in friends that their relationship quickly turned “from a fairy tale into a nightmare,” with accusations of regular violence and threats. She claimed that Wellings had used extreme methods of abuse, including threatening to use a drill on her teeth and acid to disfigure her.
As the trial continued, the court heard from a variety of witnesses, including medical professionals, and the defence closed its case after the evidence was read. Judge Robert Altham, the Recorder of Preston, informed the jury that no further evidence would be presented. The trial will now proceed with legal directions from the judge, followed by closing speeches from the lawyers. The jury is expected to deliberate and return a verdict by Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
This tragic case highlights the complex interplay of domestic violence, mental health struggles, and personal history, as well as the devastating impact that such circumstances can have on individuals and their families.
