Abusive man cleared of partner’s manslaughter | Global News Avenue

The boyfriend of a young mother who committed suicide was found guilty of assault and chronic domestic violence but cleared her of manslaughter.

Ryan Wellings, from Bispham, Lancashire, became the first defendant to go before a jury accused of unlawfully killing his partner after 23-year-old Kienna Dawes Kiena Dawes committed suicide after domestic violence.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, the 30-year-old landscape gardener was found not guilty of manslaughter and guilty of assault, coercion and controlling behavior between January 2020 and July 2022.

Willings denied all charges and did not react as the verdict was read.

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When the defendant was cleared of manslaughter, Ms Dawes’ sister cried and her mother stared straight ahead.

Willings, who will be sentenced on January 16, smiled and blew a kiss to his current girlfriend in the public gallery as he was led away.

During the trial, the jury heard Ms Dawes, a hairdresser from Fleetwood, Lancashire, left a note saying “I was murdered” when Wellings died in July 2022. “Killed (her)” before committing suicide on March 22.

The defense said her medical records showed she had had mental health problems since she was 13, frequently used drugs and alcohol, had suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide before and after meeting Wellings.

Jurors heard Ms Doss suffered two years of violence and abuse at the hands of Wellings.

She was diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder that resulted in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty with relationships, a condition that was allegedly exploited by the defendant.

Wellings told jurors he never intentionally hit her, adding that any injuries she sustained were the result of him “overpowering” her when she attacked him.

Her mother told the court Ms Dawes first met Wellings in January 2020 and was “smitten”.

Willings, who has a previous conviction for assaulting his ex-partner, had Ms Dawes’ name and face tattooed on his body within a week of meeting and proposed within three months.

But Ms Dawes later said her “fairy tale” turned into a “nightmare” for Mr Willings, who had a bad temper and was addicted to cocaine and alcohol.

The jury heard details of the abuse in hundreds of text messages between them and from Ms Dawes to friends.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC called Wellings an “entitled and aggressive bully”, while Ms Dawes’ friends described Wellings as a “horrible” and jealous person. The jury heard Wellings did not like to be responded to, which ” sparked his anger.”

His abuse of Ms Dawes included frequent slapping, pulling her hair, threatening to pull out her teeth with a drill and throwing acid in her face “to make her look like Katie Piper”.

Unable to hold down a job, he found and quit 22 jobs, draining her of her money while she worked two jobs.

Wellings took out a £15,000 Covid loan during lockdown, which he spent on hotels, £1,800 of golf clubs and drugs.

The jury heard Wellings left Ms Dawes with a swollen eye and began criticizing her weight while contacting escorts and prostitutes online after she became pregnant.

Friends and her mother Angela Dawes warned her to stay away from the “toxic” Wellings.

Wellings was called to the police on more than one occasion, but Wellings threatened Ms. Dawes that she would take her daughter away from them if she told them what happened, so she refused to help prosecute him.

Wellings told jurors “I’m not a monster” but admitted “harsh tactics” were used against her.

The final beating left Ms Dawes “shattering” and she required hospital treatment. This time she did confess to the police that her persecutor was arrested, but was not detained for violating bail conditions, which made her feel that the police were disappointed.

Four days later, she took her own life.

Three Lancashire police officers face disciplinary hearings.

After the trial, Wellings’ mother and girlfriend were investigated by police for allegedly “coaching” him to testify.

On the first day after Christmas, before the jury was brought back into the courtroom during the six-week trial, prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told the presiding judge, Preston Robert Preston Robert Altham’s Honorary Recorder, Wellings discussed the content and nature of the case on several occasions. Although he was not legally allowed to discuss his case with them, he gave them evidence.

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