Heartbreaking final phrases of spouse who ‘could not escape violent controlling husband’
Tarryn Baird took her own life after allegedly being subjected to a campaign of ‘physical and sexual violence’ at the hands of her husband, Christopher Trybus who is on trial for manslaughter
Christopher Trybus, 43, is facing a charge of manslaughter after his wife Tarryn Baird took her own life in November 2017(Image: Family Handout )
A man controlled his wife through “physical and sexual violence”, leading to her taking her own life because she could not escape him, a court has heard. Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who died of hanging in November 2017 at the age of 34.
The 43-year-old also faces charges at Winchester Crown Court of controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of rape. The coercive control charge alleges that Trybus controlled Ms Baird through using and threatening violence towards her, sexually assaulting her, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting access to finance, threatening to reveal private information to her family and isolating her from her family.
Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told the jury that Trybus carried out “extensive and escalating controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour including sexual violence of two rapes and other sexual assaults”.
He continued: “It took place over a sustained period of time behind closed doors and all of it during the course of a marriage. It led ultimately in November 2017 to a woman in just her thirties and whose name is Tarryn Baird taking her own life by hanging.
“She was the defendant’s wife and the prosecution say that the defendant is legally responsible for her death.”
Mr Little detailed that Trybus exerted control over “many aspects of their relationship” even from overseas, using the “threat and fear of physical and sexual violence”, which led to a decline in her “already weakened mental state and a cause of her deciding that she should take her own life”.
He further stated: “She did so in their own home. She had not managed to escape from him, despite seriously considering doing so on a number of occasions.
“However, we argue that constricted by his control she could never go through with leaving him, no doubt fearing the consequences if she would try to do so, and instead she stopped his control over her in the only way she felt she could by taking her own life.”
Mr Little revealed that Ms Baird, who was employed at an opticians, left a note which read: “To my family, I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more.
“I know you may not understand this but I just can’t explain the dark cloud that is over me. Please don’t let this break you but know I am now free. Nothing any of you could have done could have changed this, please just know that. I love you and please forgive me.”
Mr Little mentioned that the couple, both originally from South Africa, relocated to the UK in 2007 and tied the knot in 2009.
Trybus, who works as a software consultant and developer, refutes the charges and the trial is ongoing.
