Kiena Dawes' boyfriend showed affection 'for show' before she took own life, friend says

Hairdresser Kiena Dawes, 23, near her nine-month-old girl with a person earlier taking her ain life, arsenic a tribunal heard she suffered years of maltreatment from her spouse Ryan Wellings

A antheral accused of starring a “campaign of abuse” against a young mum who took her ain beingness did amusement her affection - but it was “just for show”, a assemblage has heard.

Hairdresser Kiena Dawes, 23, near her nine-month-old girl with a person earlier lying down connected a railway line, adjacent Barnacre, Lancs, successful July 2022. A tribunal has been told she had suffered years of maltreatment from her spouse Ryan Wellings. A termination enactment near connected her telephone with the babe claimed “I was murdered” and that Wellings had “killed me”.

Preston crown tribunal has heard Wellings had been convulsive towards the mother-of-one during their relationship. Wellings, 30, from Bispham, Lancs, who had Kiena’s sanction tattooed connected his cervix wrong a week of gathering her, denies manslaughter, battle and coercive and controlling behaviour.

The defence claims Wellings was not liable for her decease and their narration was “loving and affectionate” but besides “difficult and stormy”. Under questioning from John Jones KC, defending, Kiena’s person Kacie Valentine, said determination was “good stuff’ successful their relationship, but it was “outweighed” by the “bad stuff”.

Ms Valentine, who discovered the termination note, agreed that Wellings had shown her “affection”, the assemblage heard, but it “was conscionable for show”. Under further questioning Ms Valentine said her person had led a “party lifestyle” and believed she had utilized drugs.

She besides said she was alert her person had experienced intelligence wellness problems and had made erstwhile attempts connected her life. A further witness, Kurt Bradshaw, who said helium was similar a “big brother” to Kiena, told the tribunal she had told him astir being attacked by Wellings but had “downplayed” it, saying “he didn’t bash it and it was conscionable a slap”.

Mr Bradshaw said helium met her connected a nighttime retired successful Blackpool erstwhile she told him that Wellings was abusing her. He said: “She said she was being deed and terrorised and wanted it each to stop.”

Mr Bradshaw admitted helium wanted to find Wellings and “do him in” and had fuelled mendacious claims helium was having a narration with Kiena. The assemblage has seen photos of injuries Ms Dawes allegedly suffered arsenic a effect of being attacked by Wellings, which included a chopped to her caput and a “black eye” erstwhile she was heavy pregnant.

In different incident, helium allegedly held a drill to her face, switched it connected and threatened to “drill” her teeth out. They assemblage antecedently heard astir the termination enactment wich read: “The end. I fought hard, I fought long. I went done symptom nary 1 could imagine. No 1 volition cognize what I went through. I was murdered. Slowly. They tortured me, till determination was thing left. I mislaid my combat but I didn’t springiness up my battle. I fought till the end. Ryan Wellings killed me.”

Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, has told the jury: “The predominant thrust of what Kiena was saying successful her termination enactment was that Ryan Wellings, the suspect successful this trial, was liable for her death.” The defence claims her descriptions of his behaviour were either inaccurate, untrue oregon exaggerated and her decease was not the effect of immoderate unlawful acts by him.

It’s alleged she was a “deeply troubled” young pistillate with a agelong psychiatric history, which included erstwhile attempts to instrumentality her ain life. The trial, owed to past 4 to 5 weeks, continues.

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