On 13 January 2025 Ryan Wellings was found not guilty of manslaughter and guilty of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour between January 2020 and July 2022.
Wellings is the first defendant to be tried before a jury accused of the unlawful killing of his partner after Kiena Dawes took her own life following domestic abuse.
During the trial, the jury heard evidence of the abuse Kiena endured over two years. In a note she left before taking her own life on 22 July 2022, Kiena wrote, “I was murdered” and accused Wellings of “killing (her).”
The defence highlighted Kiena’s history of mental health struggles, thoughts of suicide and attempts to take her own life before and after she met Wellings.
Kiena had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder resulting in increased impulsivity, poor self-esteem and difficulty in relationships, a condition that was allegedly exploited by Wellings.
Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, said:
“The verdict in this case highlights the complex task a jury must perform to determine the extent to which the abuse contributed to the decision by Kiena to take her own life. The test in law is that it must be more than minimal.
“Coercive control is a bespoke form of abuse, which targets a victim’s vulnerabilities. In this case there seems to have been evidence of ‘gaslighting’ whereby Wellings used Kiena’s past mental health to push her to the edge. Jurors need help in understanding how a victim can become so entrapped in an abusive relationship that they can see no way out.
“Many victims of domestic abuse who take their own lives will have pre-existing vulnerabilities, which are deliberately exploited by their abuser to exert control and inflict harm. The justice system must hold perpetrators accountable for the full scope of their actions.
“Whilst the outcome of this case may not have delivered justice for Kiena’s family, their courage in speaking out about the issue will have helped raise awareness about domestic abuse as a cause of suicide and can help contribute to changes in the law and practice that are needed.”
ENDS