Christopher Trybus, 43, has been cleared of manslaughter, rape, and coercive control charges following a seven-week trial at Winchester crown court. A jury acquitted the software consultant and developer of all charges after deliberating for 40 hours and eight minutes.
- Verdict: Christopher Trybus was found not guilty of manslaughter, two counts of rape, and coercive and controlling behavior.
- Context: The charges stemmed from the 2017 death of his wife, Tarryn Baird, who took her own life.
- Defense Argument: The defense maintained that injuries were self-inflicted and allegations were false, citing the victim’s history of PTSD.
Christopher Trybus Acquitted Following Domestic Abuse Allegations
The case centered on the death of Tarryn Baird, 34, who was found dead at her home in Swindon, Wiltshire, on November 28, 2017. Baird and Trybus had met at school in their native South Africa, moved to the UK in 2007, and married two years later.
Prosecuting barrister Tom Little KC argued that the “control and physical violence meted out to her,” including sexual violence and the fear thereof, caused Baird to take her own life.
The prosecution alleged that rapes occurred in 2016 and that Trybus monitored his wife, limited her access to finances, and isolated her from her family by threatening to reveal private information.
The court heard that Baird made more than 100 visits to her GP, reporting rapes and displaying bruising she attributed to beatings. She also allegedly attempted to move to a women’s refuge but stated she feared leaving was more dangerous than staying.
Defense and Mental Health Evidence
Defense barrister Katy Thorne KC countered these claims, stating that Baird’s injuries were self-inflicted. Thorne argued that Trybus “loved her and cherished her deeply” and that Baird had made “demonstrably false allegations to health professionals.”
Thorne presented evidence that some injuries were reported to health professionals during periods when Trybus was not in the country.
The defense also noted that Baird lived with PTSD from witnessing violent incidents in South Africa and had taken several prescription drug overdoses in the months prior to her death.
Thorne suggested Baird was “desperately seeking help” for mental health issues and may have become “addicted to the attention” brought by her allegations. In her closing speech, Thorne stated the prosecution’s case was based on an “agenda” that women alleging domestic abuse must be telling the truth.
In a note left to her family, Baird wrote, “I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more… please just know that I am now free.”
In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
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