Man Acquitted in Wife's Suicide Case After Abuse Allegations

Christopher Trybus, 44, has been found not guilty of manslaughter, controlling and coercive behaviour, and two counts of rape. The charges stemmed from allegations of abuse made by his late wife, Tarryn Baird, who took her own life in November 2017. The jury at Winchester Crown Court delivered the unanimous verdict after 40 hours of deliberations.

Trybus, who originally hailed from South Africa where he married Baird in 2009, denied all allegations. He stated his wife had lied to health professionals for attention and suffered from PTSD after witnessing a carjacking in South Africa. He also suggested a 2015 attempted burglary worsened her anxiety and depression.

During the trial, an employee from Swindon Women's Aid testified that Baird had reported multiple incidents of violence to the charity. However, Trybus, who frequently traveled for his IT business, asserted he was abroad on several dates corresponding to the accusations.

Paying tribute, Baird's mother described her daughter as "the life of the party" and a "kind-hearted, generous, and outgoing" person. Trybus expressed his complex emotions, stating he loved his wife dearly but was devastated by her allegations, which he claimed never occurred. He noted that Baird bruised easily and attributed some injuries to self-massage with a foam roller.

Following the verdict, Trybus, who remarried in August 2024, was visibly emotional, crying tears of relief. He later released a statement expressing relief after a decade of investigations and thanked his support system. He acknowledged the seriousness of domestic abuse but stated his focus is on rebuilding his life. Wiltshire Police confirmed the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating officers' previous interactions with Baird.