Kiena Dawes, a 23-year-old mother, tragically ended her life on a railway line in July 2022, leaving behind her eight-month-old daughter. Her death followed a period of alleged domestic abuse at the hands of her partner, Ryan Wellings, 30. Wellings is currently on trial, denying charges of manslaughter, assault, and controlling and coercive behavior between January 2020 and July 2022. The prosecution argues that Wellings’s abusive actions drove Kiena to despair and ultimately led to her suicide. The defense, however, contends that Kiena’s pre-existing mental health struggles and other factors contributed to her decision to take her own life.
Kiena’s relationship with Wellings began like a fairy tale. They met in January 2020, and she was quickly swept off her feet. Within a week, Wellings had her name and face tattooed on his body, and he proposed marriage within three months. However, according to testimony from friends and Kiena’s former teacher, the initial romance soon turned into a nightmare of physical and emotional abuse. Kiena confided in her former teacher, Nicola Atherton, describing the dramatic shift in her relationship, stating that it had gone from “fairy tale to nightmare.” She shared details of the alleged “horrendous domestic violence” and “horrendous physical abuse” she was enduring.
Evidence presented in court paints a disturbing picture of Kiena’s life under Wellings’s control. She shared photos with Mrs. Atherton showing injuries she claimed were inflicted by Wellings. Kiena described feeling “bullied till there’s nothing left of me” and expressed her struggles to cope with the alleged abuse. She confided in Mrs. Atherton that she felt “tortured” by Wellings and his friends. Debbie Green, Kiena’s nail technician, also testified about the drastic change she witnessed in Kiena after she began dating Wellings. Ms. Green described Kiena’s transformation from a happy-go-lucky young woman to someone who was constantly frightened and living in a state of “doom and gloom.” She recalled instances where Kiena arrived for appointments with visible injuries, including a black eye and a severely bruised arm.
Ms. Green recounted Kiena’s accounts of Wellings’s alleged violence, including an incident where he allegedly held a working drill to her mouth and frequently told her to kill herself. During their final appointment, Ms. Green described Kiena as “hysterical, crying” after an alleged beating, vowing to finally leave Wellings for good. Tragically, just two days later, Kiena took her own life. This final act, the prosecution argues, was the direct result of the sustained abuse and coercive control exerted by Wellings.
Wellings, however, denies these allegations. His defense team argues that Kiena’s mental health issues predated her relationship with him and that her suicide was a complex event influenced by multiple factors. They contend that any injuries Kiena sustained were accidental and occurred while Wellings was attempting to restrain her. The defense seeks to portray Kiena as a troubled individual whose decision to end her life was not solely attributable to Wellings’s actions. The trial continues, and the jury will ultimately decide whether the evidence supports the prosecution’s claims of abuse and coercive control or whether other factors played a more significant role in Kiena’s tragic death.
This case highlights the devastating impact of domestic abuse and the often hidden nature of coercive control. Kiena’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing the signs of abuse and providing support to those who are experiencing it. While the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding Kiena’s death and seeking justice for her. The trial continues to unfold, with the jury tasked with determining the truth behind the allegations and the extent to which Wellings’s actions contributed to Kiena’s tragic end.
