Mother of domestic abuser defends son after girlfriend Kiena Dawes' death

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The mother of a convicted domestic abuser described his girlfriend who took her own life as "a very poorly girl" after he was jailed for six and half years.Ryan Wellings was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on January 16 following the tragic death of Kiena Dawes in July 2022.

In a suicide note, she referred to Wellings as a “monster,” leaving the note and their nine-month-old daughter with a friend before ending her life.Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behavior over a two-year period but was cleared of manslaughter after a six-week trial.

Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, condemned Wellings for making Kiena feel “worthless,” blame herself for the abuse she endured, and believe she was an “unfit mother", reports the Mirror.Despite the court’s findings, Wellings’ mother, Lisa Green, defended her son outside the courtroom, stating: “He is very sad about it.” Speaking about Kiena in a TikTok video, she added, “She was a very poorly girl.”In his sentencing remarks, Judge Altham described Ms.

Dawes as “a popular, vivacious, friendly, and kind young woman” and addressed the devastating impact of Wellings’ abuse. He said: “You repeatedly assaulted and abused her.