The trial shows that “I was murdered,” says a suicide note from a young mother who abused

A defenseless young mother lied down in front of an express train after leaving a suicide note claiming “I was murdered” after years of alleged abuse by her ex-boyfriend, a court has heard.

Hairdresser Kiena Dawes (23) also said her ex-partner Ryan Wellings (30) “killed me”, Preston Crown Court was told.

Wellings denies murder, assault and using control and coercion against Ms Dawes during their two-year relationship.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Paul Greaney KC told the jury that on July 22, 2022, Ms Dawes, of Fleetwood, Lancashire, went to a friend’s house but when she got there the friend was taking a shower.

The “brilliant and popular” young mother went inside, then sat in the car seat holding her nine-month-old daughter before leaving the house, Greaney said.

She then headed to a country road near the West Coast Main Line. She was later hit by a train traveling at 180 km/h.

Greaney said Dawes left her cell phone next to her daughter and wrote a suicide note on it.

Ms Dawes’ phone note, shown on a screen in court, read: ‘It’s over. I fought hard, I fought long. I went through pain that no one could imagine.

“I was murdered. Ryan Wellings killed me. He destroyed every bit of strength I had left. I didn’t deserve this.

“I hope my life will save another life thanks to faster police action. Don’t let your oppressors live free.”

Then, turning to her daughter, she wrote: “I’m sorry I let you go… I’m so sorry I had to go.

“The world has turned its back on me. I was strong. I had dreams. At one point I had a future. That was taken away from me.”

In the note, she added that she hoped her daughter was “kept away from the monster called her dad.”

Greaney told jurors that Ms Dawes’ words represented the prosecution’s position that her death was caused by Wellings’ actions and he was guilty of her manslaughter.

He said that almost from the beginning of their relationship, Wellings subjected Ms Dawes to controlling and coercive behavior, abuse and violence on numerous occasions over an extended period of time.

The court heard Ms Dawes was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, which results in increased impulsivity, low self-esteem and difficulties in relationships.

Wellings took advantage of his mental health condition, jurors heard, and while that condition played a part in her decision to commit suicide, his decision to commit suicide was also influenced by his abuse of her, including during the final assault that left her in hospital 11 days before taking his own life.

The defendant claims that Mrs. Dawes’s accusations against him are either false or exaggerated, and that any injuries she suffered prior to her death were the result of his attempts to restrain her or were accidental.

The pair first met through Ms Dawes’ brother, a friend of the defendant, in January 2020 and an “intense” relationship began. the court heard that within weeks Wellings had his new girlfriend’s name and face tattooed on his body.

After the first Covid lockdown began, Mrs Dawes moved to Dorset and soon after to Wellings.

However, in May 2020, a friend of Ms Dawes visited the flat and found it dilapidated, and told her friend that Wellings had tried to strangle her with an iPhone charger cable.

On another occasion, Wellings accused Mrs Dawes of sleeping with their friend, shouted at her that she was a “slag”, threw a table at her and told her to kill herself.

Mrs. Dawes ran away from home but later returned, a recurring pattern in their relationship.

The process continues.