Man Denies Causing Wife's Suicide Amid 'Tsunami of Abuse' Allegations
A man is standing trial accused of causing his wife to take her own life through what prosecutors describe as a "tsunami" of domestic abuse. Christopher Trybus, a 43-year-old software consultant and developer from Swindon, Wiltshire, denies all charges, including manslaughter, controlling and coercive behaviour, and two counts of rape.
The Prosecution's Case: A Pattern of Abuse
Prosecutor Tom Little KC has told Winchester Crown Court that Trybus subjected his wife, Tarryn Baird, to extensive and escalating controlling, coercive, and manipulative behaviour. Ms Baird died by hanging in November 2017, and the prosecution alleges Trybus's actions led directly to her suicide.
The coercive control charge details multiple alleged behaviours: using and threatening violence, sexual assault, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting access to finances, threatening to reveal private information to her family, and isolating her from loved ones. Little described the abuse as including sexual violence of two rapes and other sexual assaults.
The Defence's Response: Consensual Acts and False Allegations
Defence barrister Katy Thorne KC presented a starkly different account. She stated that Trybus "loved and cherished" his wife deeply and was never abusive. Thorne argued that Ms Baird, due to longstanding mental health issues, presented a "facade" to health professionals by making demonstrably false allegations.
"The defence case is that without anyone's knowledge, Tarryn Baird was making demonstrably false allegations to health professionals," Thorne told the jury. She cited examples where Ms Baird reported injuries allegedly caused by Trybus when he was out of the country, such as between November 8 and 23, 2017.
Injuries and Sexual Practices in Question
A key point of contention involves injuries presented by Ms Baird. Thorne claimed that an injury to her neck was caused by a collar worn during consensual sex, part of what she described as a healthy marital sex life that included bondage and rough sex. She stated an audio recording from Ms Baird's phone captured "kinky bondage type sex" that was mutually agreed upon.
Thorne suggested Ms Baird may have become addicted to the attention her allegations brought, explaining why she never reported them to police or sought refuge. "The defence case is that the reason why she never made the allegations to the police or went to a refuge was because the allegations weren't true and she didn't want that fact to be exposed," she said.
Mental Health and the Tragic Outcome
The defence posits that Ms Baird's suicide was a "cry for help that went tragically wrong", driven by her mental health difficulties and withdrawal of support services, not by Trybus's actions. Thorne emphasised that the jury must scrutinise the reliability of Ms Baird's claims, noting allegations of financial control and isolation were untrue.
"Health professionals were being told a false story and her boredom and troubled mind was leading her to make allegations to seek care and attention," Thorne added. The trial continues as the jury weighs these contrasting narratives in a case marked by profound tragedy.
