Man accused of killing wife says foam roller caused her bruises

A man accused of subjecting his wife to a "tsunami" of domestic abuse told a jury bruising on her body had been caused by a foam roller she used to massage her muscles.

Christopher Trybus, 43, from Swindon in Wiltshire, is on trial charged with the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who took her own life in November 2017 at the age of 34.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Baird reported several injuries to medical professionals in the years leading to her death, which Trybus said Baird told her were caused by "slipping down the stairs" or in the bath.

Trybus also faces charges of controlling and coercive behaviour and two counts of rape. He denies all charges.

When questioned by defence barrister Katy Thorne KC, Trybus said Baird had "bruised easily" and some of the bruising was caused by a foam roller she used after the gym.

"She'd often do it watching telly at night, using body weight to roll over it," Trybus told the court.

"I said look you've got some bruising from this, you're not meant to use it that hard."

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Tom Little KC, prosecuting, previously told the jury that Trybus carried out a "tsunami" of abuse against his wife including "extensive and escalating controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour including sexual violence of two rapes and other sexual assaults".

The jury has been played an audio clip recorded by Baird which Little previously said portrayed "violence and non-consensual sexual activity". He said "the sounds of slaps can be heard" and a female voice "cries out in apparent pain".

The clip was found on Baird's phone by her mother after she died, the court was told.

After hearing the clip earlier, Trybus told the jury he did not think the noises made by Baird were due to pain.

"I guess if she said 'that hurts' or something, I would have stopped," he added.

"We always joked we had a safe word, maybe it came from a movie, the safe word was 'pineapple'," he told the court.

"She never used it, maybe out and about, joking about it."

The trial also heard how Baird told medical professionals about several fainting episodes she suffered after sex.

Trybus said he was aware on one occasion when Baird had fainted on the landing and another in the shower.

The jury was previously told Trybus, a software consultant, had developed a software to track his wife and had once appeared at a hotel where she was staying even after she had changed her phone, withdrawn cash and avoided driving in an effort not to be found.

Giving evidence, Trybus said the pair would track each other using an app called Life360.

"It was much easier for her to track me and also with her fainting it was nice to know where she was if need be."

Asked if the app was something he insisted upon, Trybus added: "No, I suggested it."

Trybus also denied assaulting Baird with a metal pole in November 2016 and said he was working in Sweden and the Netherlands at the time.

The trial continues.

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