A man accused of inflicting severe domestic abuse on his wife, leading to her tragic suicide, has defended himself by labeling an audio recording of the alleged abuse as a form of consensual “kinky bondage type sex.”
Christopher Trybus, residing in Swindon, Wiltshire, is facing charges of causing the death of Tarryn Baird, who passed away from hanging in November 2017. In addition to manslaughter, the 43-year-old is also accused of engaging in controlling and coercive behavior, as well as two counts of rape, as per the proceedings at Winchester Crown Court.
Allegations against Trybus include exerting control over Ms. Baird through threats and acts of violence, sexual assault, surveillance of her movements, financial restrictions, intimidation regarding private matters, and isolating her from her family. However, he has denied all the accusations.
During the trial, Tom Little KC, the prosecutor, described the extensive abusive behavior perpetrated by Trybus, characterizing it as a relentless “tsunami” of control and manipulation, including sexual violence like rape and other assaults. In defense, Katy Thorne KC argued that Trybus refutes the claims, suggesting that Ms. Baird had presented a false image to healthcare professionals due to her mental health struggles.
Thorne emphasized that Trybus never engaged in abusive behavior towards his wife, asserting that the allegations were fabricated. She highlighted instances where Ms. Baird purportedly made false accusations of violence, even when Trybus was out of the country. The defense team contended that the injuries and allegations were unsubstantiated and part of a pattern of seeking attention through false claims.
Questioning the reliability of Ms. Baird’s statements, Thorne pointed out her mental health issues and the possible addiction to the attention garnered by her allegations. She argued that the sexual activities between Trybus and Ms. Baird were consensual, including practices like bondage and rough sex, dismissing claims of coercion and control.
Thorne clarified that an injury on Ms. Baird’s neck was a result of consensual sexual activities involving a collar. She claimed that an audio recording labeled as “kinky bondage type sex” was also consensual, aiming to disprove the narrative of trapping and control described by Ms. Baird.
The defense team suggested that Ms. Baird’s suicide might have been a result of mental health struggles and lack of adequate care rather than Trybus’s actions. They maintained that the allegations of abuse were unfounded and urged the jury to consider the broader context of Ms. Baird’s mental health challenges.
The trial is ongoing, with Trybus, a software consultant and developer, steadfastly denying all charges.
