A UK court has been presented with harrowing details regarding the circumstances leading to the suicide of a woman who allegedly endured a prolonged campaign of abuse by her husband. Tarryn Baird, aged 34, was found dead in her home in Swindon, Wiltshire, on November 28, 2017. In a note left for her family, she expressed despair, stating, “I am so sorry but I just couldn’t take it any more.”
Christopher Trybus, 43, faces charges of manslaughter, two counts of rape, and coercive and controlling behavior. He denies all allegations against him. The trial opened at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday, where prosecutors detailed the escalating violence Baird reportedly suffered in the two years leading up to her death.
Prosecutors indicated that the abuse intensified after the couple moved from their native South Africa to the UK in 2007. In late 2016, Trybus is alleged to have raped Baird twice, following a confrontation about financial responsibilities concerning her cousin’s school fees. The court heard excerpts from Baird’s diary, revealing her growing anxiety about her marriage. One entry recounted, “One night, during sex, I felt his hands around my neck. Something was unleashed that night.”
Baird’s diary entries suggest a significant shift in her relationship with Trybus, whom she married in 2009. She noted that his violent tendencies were a hidden aspect of his personality that had only recently emerged. The court was informed that Trybus had attempted to strangle her during these encounters, and he had installed an application on her mobile phone to track her movements.
The prosecution highlighted that Baird had sought medical help on multiple occasions prior to her death. In October 2016, she confided in her doctor and a domestic abuse charity about her husband tying a rope around her neck. “We ask you not to lose sight in this case of how she would eventually take her own life by hanging,” said prosecutor Tom Little KC.
In November 2016, Baird expressed to her doctor that she had attempted to leave Trybus but was met with violence. She described being hit with a metal pole and indicated that she felt trapped and fearful, unsure of how many more beatings she could endure. Despite making “detailed plans” to escape to a women’s refuge, her efforts were thwarted when Trybus returned home unexpectedly from a business trip.
The court also heard that Trybus threatened to inform Baird’s parents about her alleged substance abuse, claiming it would undermine her credibility if she sought help regarding domestic abuse. Little emphasized the cumulative effect of Trybus’s control and violence, stating that it contributed to the deterioration of Baird’s mental health, ultimately leading to her tragic decision to end her life.
The trial, presided over by Judge Linden, is expected to continue for seven weeks. This case underlines the critical importance of recognizing and addressing domestic violence. Help is available for those in similar situations. In the UK and Ireland, individuals can reach out to Samaritans at 116 123. In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be contacted at 988, while in Australia, Lifeline is available at 13 11 14. Further international support can be found at befrienders.org.