A man has been acquitted of all charges related to the death of his wife, who took her own life. Christopher Trybus, 43, from Swindon, was found not guilty of manslaughter, two counts of rape, and coercive and controlling behaviour following a seven-week trial at Winchester Crown Court.
The jury deliberated for 40 hours and eight minutes before clearing Trybus on all counts. Tarryn Baird, 34, was found dead at her home in Swindon on 28 November 2017. The couple, who met at school in South Africa, moved to the UK in 2007 and married two years later.
The prosecution alleged that Trybus raped Baird in 2016 and subjected her to coercive control, including tracking her, limiting her access to finances, isolating her from family, and threatening to reveal private information. Prosecutor Tom Little KC argued that this abuse led Baird to take her own life. Baird had made over 100 visits to her GP, reporting rape and displaying bruising, and had attempted to leave for a women's refuge.
However, Trybus's barrister, Katy Thorne KC, contended that Baird's injuries were self-inflicted and that she made false allegations. Thorne said Trybus loved and cherished his wife, and that Baird was struggling with mental health issues, including PTSD from witnessing violence in South Africa. Baird had taken several prescription drug overdoses before her death and left a note apologising to her family.
Thorne argued that Trybus had been unfairly accused and questioned how he could defend himself against allegations from a decade ago. She said the prosecution's case was based on an assumption that women alleging domestic abuse must be telling the truth.
