A man accused of driving his wife to suicide through relentless domestic abuse claims he loved and cherished her deeply while accusing her of fabricating allegations, the court has heard.
Prosecution Alleges ‘Tsunami’ of Abuse
Christopher Trybus, 43, from Swindon, Wiltshire, faces manslaughter charges in the death of his wife, Tarryn Baird, who died by hanging at age 34 in November 2017. Ms. Baird worked at an optician’s and left a note stating: ‘To my family, I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more.’
Trybus also stands charged with controlling and coercive behavior, along with two counts of rape at Winchester Crown Court. Prosecutor Tom Little KC described a ‘tsunami’ of abuse, including escalating control, manipulation, violence, sexual assaults, monitoring her location, restricting finances, threats to expose private details to her family, and isolating her from loved ones.
Defense Insists on Loving Relationship and False Claims
Defense lawyer Katy Thorne KC asserts Trybus denies all charges. She told the jury Ms. Baird maintained a ‘facade’ with health professionals due to her own mental health struggles.
‘This without question is a tragic case, a young woman has died and she took her own life and nothing you decide in this courtroom can alter the grief and loss of those who loved her,’ Ms. Thorne stated.
She emphasized: ‘Christopher Trybus was never abusive to his wife, he didn’t beat her, he didn’t break her, he didn’t coerce her, control her and he didn’t cause her death. On the contrary, he loved her and cherished her deeply.’
The defense highlights instances where Ms. Baird allegedly made false violence claims, such as reporting injuries and photographing them while Trybus was abroad from November 8 to 23, including on November 16.
Ms. Thorne urged the jury to question the reliability of Ms. Baird’s statements, noting her longstanding mental health issues. ‘She was desperately seeking help and feeling she wasn’t receiving it and she may have become addicted to the attention that her allegations brought,’ she said.
The defense argues Ms. Baird never reported to police or sought refuge because the claims were untrue.
Sexual Assault Allegations Disputed
Trybus denies sexual assaults. Ms. Thorne described their sex life as ‘healthy and consensual,’ involving practices like bondage and rough sex. A neck injury stemmed from a consensual ‘collar,’ and an audio recording captured ‘kinky bondage type sex.’
Claims of financial control and isolation are false, the defense contends, with the opposite being true. Health professionals heard a fabricated story as Ms. Baird sought attention amid boredom and mental troubles.
Ms. Thorne suggested the suicide might have been a ‘cry for help that went tragically wrong,’ attributing it to mental health issues and withdrawn services, not Trybus’s actions.
A software consultant and developer, Trybus denies all charges. The trial continues.
