A young mother was discovered ‘covered in blood’ following an assault by her violent partner, just days prior to her tragic suicide, as recounted in court.
Kiena Dawes, 23, ended her life at a railway line in Lancashire on July 22, 2022, after drafting a message on her phone that stated, ‘I was murdered… Ryan Wellings killed me’.
Wellings, aged 30, is currently facing trial, charged with manslaughter in connection to her demise, in addition to accusations of assault as well as controlling and coercive behavior.
Jurors have been informed that his physical and psychological abuse progressively diminished Kiena’s spirit, making her increasingly susceptible to taking her own life, culminating in an assault on July 11 that ‘shattered her’.
During her testimony, PC Stephanie Sawyer, who was summoned to Kiena’s residence in Fleetwood, Lancashire, after she dialed 999 that morning, reported: ‘There was blood on the floor in the shared corridor.
‘Kiena was seated on the ground with the door ajar, her daughter nestled between her legs. She was drenched in blood, on her hands and face. She was visibly distressed and in tears. A cut was evident on the right side of her head.
‘In the bathroom, there was a destroyed towel rack.’
The officer recounted that she dressed Kiena’s nine-month-old daughter, who was then taken to her grandmother’s, while Kiena was transported to a hospital in Blackpool for medical care.
The mother of one disclosed to the police that Wellings had referred to her as a ‘schizophrenic freak’ during the altercation, had ‘thrown’ her against a bathroom radiator, causing it to detach from the wall, and had slammed the door towards her, striking her head and causing her to lose consciousness and inflicting a head injury.
Wellings was subsequently arrested but claimed he only attempted to deter her from assaulting him.
Kevin O’Rourke, a domestic violence consultant at the hospital, testified that he had a conversation with Kiena to conduct a risk assessment.
His records of her statements described ‘emotional and physical abuse’, controlling tendencies, urging her to ‘take her own life’, and living ‘in dread’ of Wellings.
Earlier incidents of alleged domestic violence were also noted; however, Kiena had opted not to pursue ‘charges’ then.
Kiena, who worked as a hairdresser, had been diagnosed with an Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), leading to heightened impulsivity, low self-worth, and challenges in her relationships, according to the court.
It is alleged that Wellings manipulated her mental health struggles, and while her condition contributed to her tragic decision, his abuse also significantly impacted her state of mind.
The court learned that the couple commenced their relationship in January 2020, which quickly became ‘intense’; Wellings had Kiena’s name and image tattooed on his body just a week after they met and proposed marriage within three months.
Wellings refutes the accusations of violence against her, asserting she was a ‘troubled’ individual, whose mental health dilemmas predated their relationship, and insists her decision to take her life was influenced by ‘multiple factors’.
The trial proceeds.
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