Man Denies Causing Wife's Suicide Amid 'Tsunami' of Abuse Allegations
A man accused of driving his wife to suicide through what prosecutors describe as a 'tsunami' of domestic abuse has told a jury that he 'loved her dearly'. Christopher Trybus, 44, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court for the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who died by hanging in November 2017 at the age of 34.
Multiple Serious Charges Laid Against Defendant
Trybus also faces charges of controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of rape. The coercive control charge alleges that he controlled Ms Baird through a pattern of behaviour including using and threatening violence, sexually assaulting her, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting her access to finances, threatening to reveal private information to her family, and isolating her from her support network.
Giving evidence on his 44th birthday, Trybus denied multiple allegations of assaulting Ms Baird, including one incident in June 2017 where he is accused of strangling her until she lost consciousness and 'leaving her for dead'. When directly asked if he had committed this act, the defendant responded: 'No, absolutely not.'
Defendant Describes 'Complex Feelings' About Allegations
Describing his emotions regarding the allegations against him, Trybus told the court: 'It's such a complex feeling, I loved her dearly and she has gone and said all of these things. At no point has this ever happened, it's such a mix of emotions, I am upset that she said these things but she is not here so I can't be upset with her, it's not something I can put into words.'
The court heard that the couple engaged in what Trybus described as 'kinky sex', and he admitted purchasing a kit from Amazon that included cuffs, rope, a neck collar with leash, ball gag, whip, and blindfold. He previously told the jury that during sexual activities he had placed his hands around her neck because 'she wanted me to choke her', though he insisted he never applied pressure to hurt her or cause loss of consciousness.
Defendant Offers Alternative Explanations for Injuries
Trybus suggested that Ms Baird's various injuries could be explained by factors other than abuse. He testified that she had told him she 'bruised easily' and that some injuries might have resulted from fainting episodes, boxing classes, or using a foam-roller on tight muscles after exercise.
The defendant also revealed that in September 2017, Ms Baird informed him that police had investigated a complaint against him following what he described as a 'joke' made by her father. Trybus said she confirmed to officers that she was financially dependent on him and that he tracked her phone, with police reportedly commenting: 'That's controlling.'
Previous Police Investigation and Defendant's Explanations
Trybus suggested the investigation might have involved an injury to Ms Baird's neck caused by the collar from the Amazon kit. He described Ms Baird as 'exceptionally anxious' about the police inquiry, adding: 'She was worried for me and she knew I hadn't done anything wrong and she was scared she had got me into trouble.'
The couple attended a police station but were told 'there is nothing to be questioned about so you can just go'. Ms Baird later received a text message confirming no action would be taken regarding the complaint.
Defendant Questions Motives Behind Allegations
Earlier in the trial, Trybus suggested his wife might have fabricated the allegations due to her 'boring life'. Speaking about the accusations, he said: 'It's such a conflict for me, you know, I loved her so much and we had a happy marriage, I would never dream she would say these things.'
'It's so strange for me that she is saying these things and at the same time it's landed me in all of this, I can't say I am angry, it's such a mix, I feel bad she was in such a place that she was saying these things, what was going through her mind, that she was saying this. Then there is a little bit, I do not want to go as far as anger, it's not anger, it's a mix of feelings, I struggle to even put it into words.'
Previous Suicide Attempt Revealed in Court
The court heard last week that Ms Baird had been stopped by a police officer during a previous attempt to end her life just two months before her death. This revelation adds context to the tragic circumstances surrounding her passing in November 2017.
Christopher Trybus, who runs a software consultancy business, denies all charges against him. The trial continues at Winchester Crown Court as the jury considers the evidence presented by both prosecution and defense.
