Man, 30, charged with manslaughter of mum Kiena Dawes, 23, found dead on railway tracks
A MAN has been charged with the manslaughter of young mum Kiena Dawes.
Kiena, 23, was tragically found dead on railway tracks near Barnacre, in Lancashire on July 22, 2022.
The mum-of-one, from Fleetwood, had been reported missing by family hours before.
Concerned relatives raised the alarm after she left her nine-month-old daughter with a close friend and failed to return.
There were allegations Kiena had previously been the victim of assault, and she was classified as a high-risk missing person.
Despite cops being handed the reg plate of her white BMW, British Transport Police discovered the 23-year-old dead on a railway line near Garstang – five hours after the urgent search was launched.
Kiena allegedly sent a message to a friend before her death which read: “I hope my life saves another by police services acting faster.”
Lancashire Police have now charged Ryan Wellings, 30, with manslaughter, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Wellings, formerly from Fleetwood but now of Housman Close, Bispham, Blackpool was released on conditional bail.
He is set to appear at Preston Magistrates Court on July 10, 2024.
Following Kiena’s death, her brother Kynan, 29, paid an emotional tribute and hailed her as a “bubbly” and “amazing young girl”.
He also slammed Lancashire Police and claimed: “They let down Kiena in life and failed her in her last moments.”
Kynan alleged his sister had felt abandoned by the force on several occasions.
Lancashire Police, whose handling of the Nicola Bulley case was widely criticized, had referred themselves to the police watchdog.
It conducted an investigation into whether reports of violence against Kiena had been sufficiently followed up on.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed one officer would face gross misconduct proceedings, with two others accused of misconduct.
Lancashire Police previously said it could not issue further updates until the criminal investigation into the young mum’s death had finished.