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
A woman who took her own life told a friend she had suffered abuse at the hands of her husband, a court has heard.
Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who died by suicide 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 counts of rape, alleged to have happened in October and November 2016.
The coercive control charge alleges that Trybus controlled Ms Baird through the use and threat of violence, sexual assault, monitoring her whereabouts, limiting her access to finances, threatening to reveal private information to her family and isolating her from family.
On Thursday, jurors heard from Elizabeth Clarke, known as Libby, who first met Ms Baird while they were working at an optical firm in Swindon. Mrs Clarke described how they had bonded over their husbands both being “workaholics” and said they maintained their friendship after Ms Baird left the company.
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Text messages between the women were read by Tom Little KC, prosecuting, with Ms Baird first alleging abuse by her husband in January 2017. In one exchange, Ms Baird described how Trybus had “snapped” and shown a “different side” of himself to her. When Mrs Clarke asked whether Trybus had hurt her, Ms Baird replied: “Yes Libby, I’m afraid he has.”
Ms Baird described herself as a “total mess” and alleged that Trybus had first attacked her a few months earlier, leading to multiple hospital visits. She added: “He checks on me a lot now and I have to account for any time I’m not at home.”
Giving evidence, Mrs Clarke told jurors that Ms Baird had shown her bruises on her eye and abdomen, and images on her phone of bruises.
In messages from February 2017, Ms Baird cancelled a meeting with Mrs Clarke, telling her she was “just feeling really sore today from earlier in the week” and adding that her doctor had confirmed she had concussion. She added: “Still feel groggy and spaced out.”
On April 3, Ms Baird wrote to her friend: “Hey Libby, I hope you guys are having a good day. Please could you do me a favour. If it ever comes up, please say I was with you today. It will probably never come up but just in case, I just want to cover myself. Thanks.”
When asked what had happened, Ms Baird replied: “Chris tracked me at the hospital so need cover. Just a bit bruised and sore but I will heal, I always do.” She added: “He got upset and it made it worse. He thinks I’m hiding things from him.”
Mrs Clarke wrote: “How could you hide what he is doing to you?” Ms Baird replied: “I know. I am drained and defeated.”
In May 2017, Ms Baird asked Mrs Clarke to contact Women’s Aid and ask whether they had a space for her. Ms Baird later told her friend she had been planning to leave home at 5pm but “broke down” and could not.
Giving evidence, Mrs Clarke confirmed she had met Ms Baird every “couple of weeks” in 2017 and that they were more in touch that year “because she was going through so much”. Mr Little asked about Ms Baird’s drinking and whether it had been discussed.
Mrs Clarke replied: “Yes, I know there was a conversation that took place. It would have been after she disclosed it to me because she gave me a reason for why she was drinking. She said that when Christopher hurt her, it numbed the pain.” When asked what she meant, Mrs Clarke replied: “Being beaten.”
Representing Trybus, Katy Thorne KC, asked Mrs Clarke to confirm that Trybus and his wife lived in a big house, drove Porsche vehicles and had “fancy holidays”. Mrs Clarke said this was the case and also confirmed she believed Ms Baird was “rattling around in a big house on her own”.
She added that Ms Baird’s alcohol consumption was “like a housewife having a drink” and not noticeable to the point she would have picked up on it.
Earlier in the trial, Mr Little alleged that Trybus carried out “extensive and escalating controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour, including sexual violence”.
He said the prosecution’s case is that Trybus, who travelled abroad regularly for his work as a software consultant and developer, is “legally responsible” for Ms Baird’s death.
Trybus and Ms Baird, both from South Africa, moved to the UK in 2007 and married in 2009. He denies the charges and the trial continues.
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