A software consultant accused of driving his wife to suicide had allegedly designed a sophisticated high-tech programme to track her movements, a police officer testified in court. Christopher Trybus, 43, from Swindon in Wiltshire, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court, where he denies the manslaughter of his former wife Tarryn Baird. She was found dead at her home in November 2017, having died by hanging at the age of 34.
Police Officer Details Alleged Tracking
Lisa Attree, a safeguarding officer with Wiltshire Police, provided evidence to the jury, recounting how Mrs Baird had confided in her about the distressing situation. Mrs Baird reportedly told Ms Attree that she had attempted to leave the relationship and had even hidden in a hotel to escape Trybus. Despite taking extreme precautions—such as changing her phone, using cash to pay for the room, and avoiding driving—Trybus still managed to locate her.
Fear and Evasion Efforts
According to Ms Attree, Mrs Baird expressed deep fear of repercussions if she tried to leave, stating she was "too scared" to report the alleged abuse and anxious that police might show up at her house. This fear was compounded by previous incidents; the court heard claims that if Mrs Baird turned off suspected tracking devices, Trybus would return home and assault her violently. An employee from Swindon Women's Aid, who cannot be named legally, documented this in case notes after regular contact with Mrs Baird.
Allegations of Coercive Control and Rape
In addition to manslaughter, Trybus faces charges of coercive or controlling behaviour and two counts of rape. The coercive control allegations include claims that he threatened violence, sexually abused Mrs Baird, monitored her whereabouts, restricted her access to money, and threatened to release private information to her family to isolate her. Ms Attree became involved with Mrs Baird following a crime report made when she was admitted to Great Western Hospital in Swindon in January 2017.
Evidence of High-Tech Surveillance
Ms Attree told the court that Mrs Baird showed her a screenshot of messages with Trybus, which revealed he had pinpointed her exact location, tracked the duration of her journeys, and monitored her return trips. "Trybus has developed some kind of software which is what his line of work is," Ms Attree stated. She added that despite Mrs Baird's efforts to evade tracking by turning off location and GPS on her phone, Trybus inexplicably found her at the hotel.
Impact on Mrs Baird's Well-Being
The court heard that Trybus's alleged actions severely affected Mrs Baird's mental state. She worried that he had "done a lot of damage to people's opinions of her" and feared she came across as a "mess" during her meetings with safeguarding officers. The abuse reportedly began when Mrs Baird asked Trybus's mother to move out of their home in August 2015, leaving him "furious" and leading to a spate of assaults before her death.
Further Allegations and Denials
The Swindon Women's Aid employee noted in June 2017 that Mrs Baird believed Trybus used bugging devices in the house, feeling he was "always one step ahead of her." Trybus denies all wrongdoing, and the trial is ongoing. For confidential support, individuals can contact Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org, or access resources at thecalmzone.net/get-support.
