A young mother killed herself and left a note saying she was 'murdered' after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard. Kiena Dawes, 23, a hairdresser from Fleetwood, Lancashire, said in her note that 'Ryan Wellings killed me', a jury was told.
Wellings, 30, is standing trial for the manslaughter of Dawes. He is also accused of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour towards Dawes during their two-year relationship. He denies the charges. Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that Dawes was a 'bright and popular' young woman who had a nine-month-old daughter.
Greaney said Dawes had driven to a friend's home but when she got there, her friend was in the shower. She let herself in and left the baby in her friend's home before driving to a nearby railway line and killing herself. Dawes had left her mobile phone alongside her daughter and had written a suicide note on it.
The note, read out to the jury, said: 'The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain no one could imagine. I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He ruined every bit of strength I had left. I didn't deserve it. I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster. Don't let bullies live free.' Addressing her daughter, she wrote: 'I'm sorry I let you go … I'm so sorry I had to go. The world turned their back on me. I was strong. I had dreams. I had a future at one point. That was taken away from me.'
The prosecution said almost from the beginning of their relationship, Wellings had repeatedly subjected Dawes to controlling and coercive behaviour, abuse and violence, over a prolonged period. Dawes had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder, and Wellings exploited her mental health condition, jurors were told. The prosecution argued that while her condition played a part in her decision to take her own life, so too did his abuse, including a final assault which left her in hospital 11 days before she killed herself.
The defendant claims Dawes's accusations against him are either untrue or exaggerated, and any injuries she suffered before her death were a result of his attempts to restrain her or accidental. The trial continues.
