Kiena Dawes: Mum and Girlfriend of Abuser Investigated for Coaching
Kiena Dawes’ mother and girlfriend face police scrutiny for allegedly coaching Ryan Wellings during his manslaughter trial
Kiena Dawes, Ryan Wellings, Lancashire, Manslaughter Trial, Coaching
Preston: So, here’s the scoop. Kiena Dawes’ mum and her boyfriend, Ryan Wellings, are in hot water. They’re being investigated for possibly coaching him on how to testify in court.
Now, Wellings was found not guilty of manslaughter in Kiena’s tragic death, but he did get convicted for assault and coercive control. After the verdict, he even blew a kiss to his new girlfriend, Emma Croft, who was watching from the gallery.
The trial dragged on for six weeks, with a break for Christmas. When they got back, the prosecutor, Paul Greaney, mentioned some new developments that had come up.
Kiena sadly took her own life in 2022, and her mum has called Wellings a “monster.”
While Wellings was giving evidence, he was allowed to chat with family and friends, but he wasn’t supposed to discuss the case. It turns out there were calls between him, his mum, and Emma that raised eyebrows.
Greaney told the court that Wellings had been chatting about his evidence with them, which led to concerns about misconduct. He said it looked like they were trying to coach him on what to say.
The judge, Robert Altham, noted that there seemed to be some improper discussions going on. He even banned them from court until the verdicts were in and asked them to hand over their phones.
Greaney mentioned that this whole situation created complications and distractions, but he didn’t plan to question Wellings about it in front of the jury. However, if the defense wanted to call his mum or girlfriend as witnesses, they could be asked about their actions.
It’s a messy situation, and the police are looking into it further. If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available for mental health and domestic abuse support.