In response to the tragic death of Kiena Dawes, whose partner Ryan Wellings was found guilty of domestic abuse but cleared of manslaughter, senior police chief Louisa Rolfe has announced plans to increase the number of manslaughter charges filed against domestic abusers in cases where their partners take their own lives. An annual report on domestic homicides highlighted that the most common cause of death among domestic abuse victims in England and Wales in the year ending March 2024 was suspected suicide, emphasizing the urgent need for change in how such incidents are handled. Despite the mounting evidence and emotional plea of Dawes, who left a suicide note blaming Wellings for her death, Wellings was only sentenced for assault and coercive behavior. This case is only the second of its kind where a perpetrator has faced trial for causing a partner’s suicide, and it is successful only once, when Nicholas Allen pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2017. The jury during Wellings’ trial heard of numerous violent incidents, yet justice for Dawes, as perceived by her family, remains unfulfilled.

Assistant commissioner Rolfe expressed regret for the lack of a manslaughter conviction in the Dawes case and the necessity for more investigations into deaths following domestic abuse. Another case in point is that of Fawziyah Javed, who was pushed to her death by her husband from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. Javed’s final words accusing her husband of pushing her led to his murder conviction and a 20-year prison sentence.

The report recommends that police should always check for a history of domestic abuse in cases of unexpected deaths, a suggestion supported by the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) and Women’s Aid, who emphasize the underreporting of such crimes and the consequences for victims. There is a call for increased and sustained funding to combat what is acknowledged as a national emergency.

For those affected, support is available through various helmplines. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans offer freephone support on 116 123, and in the US, individuals can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988. Lifeline in Australia can be reached at 13 11 14, and international helplines are available through Befrienders.org.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/25/uk-police-to-charge-more-abusers-with-manslaughter-after-suicide-of-partner