CPS lead says she is not deterred from similar cases after Ryan Wellings, who was accused of causing partner’s suicide, was found not guilty of killing her

The not guilty verdict in the trial of a man accused of driving a young mother to suicide will not deter future manslaughter charges, with more such prosecutions already in the pipeline, a senior prosecutor has said.

Ryan Wellings, 30, was acquitted of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Kiena Dawes, who had left a note on her phone saying Wellings “killed me”. While he was jailed for six and a half years for assault and coercive and controlling behaviour, Dawes’s mother said: “Justice has not been done in the way we all hoped.”

In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org