A businessman who allegedly drove his wife to suicide after raping and manipulating her threatened to ‘snap her neck’ and then ‘dissolve her body in acid so no-one would find her’, a court was told today.
Christopher Trybus is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who took her own life aged 34 in November 2017.
The 43-year-old, who is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, Hampshire, is also accused of two charges of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Trybus had allegedly bragged about how ‘easy’ it would be to kill Ms Baird and then hide evidence by putting her body in acid, jurors were told today.
Prosecutors said that Trybus even told his mother in law how he would carry out the threat.
The court also heard that alleged domestic abuse victim Ms Baird began abusing alcohol in the lead-up to her suicide to ‘give herself courage’.
He is said to have monitored her whereabouts, controlled her financially and isolated her from her family before her death at their home in Swindon, Wiltshire.
The trial has heard how Ms Baird, who worked at an opticians, died of hanging and left a note which said: ‘To my family, I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more.’
Christopher Trybus (right) is accused of driving his wife Tarryn Baird to suicide. He is seen outside court with his current wife Bea Trybus last month
Today, Dr Nicholas Kennedy, an expert consultant psychiatrist who never met Ms Baird, gave evidence at the trial.
He said that Ms Baird’s drinking would have been ‘harmful’ to her mental health and that Trybus’ treatment of her would have ‘exacerbated’ her PTSD and anxiety symptoms – which had began when Ms Baird witnessed an attack outside her home in South Africa.
Trybus, who appeared in court in a grey suit, showed little emotion while Dr Kennedy gave evidence.
Dr Kennedy said that he had read a report about a conversation between Ms Baird, her mother, Michelle, and Trybus two weeks before Ms Baird’s death.
During that conversation, the court heard that Ms Baird said: ‘Mum, did I tell you what Chris said to me?’ Michelle replied: ‘No what did he say?’
Ms Baird said: ‘Chris said he would snap my neck in a heartbeat. Cut up my body and dissolve it in acid and no one would ever find me.’
Michelle said to Chris: ‘Are you sick? If I don’t get hold of my child I will come looking for her.’
Ms Baird said: ‘I told you that she would say that.’
Michelle said that Trybus said: ‘Yes, it is easy,’ and went on to explain how he would do this.’
Tarryn Baird (pictured), 34, died of hanging at her Swindon home in November 2017
Ms Baird had been drinking around one bottle of wine or champagne per day in the build-up to her death to ‘give herself courage’.
On one occasion she was found with a rope in her garage having drunk half a bottle of whiskey, the court heard.
Dr Kennedy: ‘I would say that the alcohol was harmful. She was drinking excessively to the point that her family were concerned about her.
‘Her alcohol would have had an effect on her mood to lower her mood. A disinhibiting effect.
‘After one attempt to hang herself she said she had been drinking to give herself courage.
‘By 2016 her alcohol had increased from a couple of bottles of wine a week to a bottle of champagne or wine every night.’
He went on to say: ‘There are repeated references of excessive alcohol when she had taken overdoses.
‘There is unequivocal evidence for harmful use of alcohol and a possible dependency on drinking.
‘There is not a record of that but I think it is a factor in the suicide outing.’
Dr Kennedy said that Ms Baird’s experiences in South Africa – including witnessing an attack and seeing other attacks on the news – had led to several mental health issues.
When discussing her mental health, Dr Kennedy said: ‘My overall opinion is that before they were in a relationship she had PTSD which arose from the incident in South Africa.
‘There is no evidence to say that at any point that her psychiatric condition is preventing her from disclosing information. At no point did her condition take her out of touch with reality.
Trybus is also accused of two charges of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour
‘My opinion is that Christopher Trybus’ acts exacerbated the symptoms of depression and anxiety. There was a continual pattern of symptoms from 2015 onwards.
‘The domestic violence would have been a contributing factor to her suicide.. I would say the level [of that contribution] is significant.
‘The PTSD would have made her more vulnerable to distress. It would have made her more vulnerable to other trauma.
‘It would have reinforced her pattern of alcohol. The amount she was drinking was relevant to her decision to commit suicide.
‘I would recognise it was a significant factor. At that stage the alcohol would have been having an effect on her mood overall.’
Trybus ran a software business, while Ms Baird worked for Trybus’s company from home, doing his administration and accounts.
Trybus denies all the allegations.
The trial continues.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit thecalmzone.net/get-support
