A man has been found not guilty of manslaughter after his wife took her own life. Christopher Trybus, who had been accused of abusing Tarryn Baird prior to her death, was also acquitted of controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of rape. Throughout the five-week trial, Trybus, 44, denied being abusive towards Baird and said she had lied in order to get attention from health professionals. A jury of seven women and five men found him not guilty of all counts at Winchester Crown Court earlier, following 40 hours of deliberations. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line. The couple were married in 2009 in their native South Africa and moved to the UK before settling in Swindon. Her mother, Michelle Baird, relocated to the UK soon after and said her daughter had become distant towards the end of 2015 and would "always cancel" plans. Prior to her death in November 2017, an employee of Swindon Women's Aid (SWA) told the court that Baird had reported multiple incidents of violence to the domestic abuse charity. But Trybus, who ran an IT company, said that he travelled abroad frequently for work and was out of the country on the days of several of the allegations. He said he believed his wife had mental health issues due to post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing an armed carjacking incident in South Africa. An attempted burglary in 2015 also appears to have triggered anxiety and depression, leading Baird to seek help from mental health professionals. Paying tribute to her daughter, Michelle said she was "the life of the party", a "kind-hearted, generous, and outgoing" person. Trybus told the court he was unaware of his wife's allegations against him, and described the accusations as "heartbreaking and devastating". He also claimed Baird "bruised easily" and blamed some of her injuries on a foam roller she used to massage her muscles after the gym. Dressed in a grey suit, blue shirt and dark tie loose at the collar, he looked up at the ceiling and burst into tears as the verdicts were announced - with cries of relief also heard from the public gallery. Outside court, Trybus hugged his current wife Bea, whom he married in August 2024, with both of them in tears. Describing how he felt about Baird in light of the allegations, he said: "It's such a complex feeling, I loved her dearly and she has gone and said all of these things. "At no point has this ever happened, it's such a mix of emotions, I am upset that she said these things but she is not here so I can't be upset with her. "It's not something I can put into words." Judge Justice Linden thanked the jurors for their service, adding: "It was a difficult and sad case and the stakes were high for the families involved. "We understand your task has not been an easy one and no-one should underestimate your role in these proceedings." Delivering a written statement outside court, Trybus described the proceedings as an "incredibly difficult experience". "After three police investigations over the course of 10 years, I'm relieved the jury has carefully considered the evidence and reached the correct verdict today," he said. "I want to thank my wife, family and friends for their unwavering support. This has had a profound impact on my life and those closest to me. "I would also like to acknowledge that domestic abuse is a very real and serious issue, and victims must always be supported."
