Manslaughter accused says TV reference 'not serious'

A man accused of causing his wife's suicide by abusing and controlling her has told a court that a conversation about dissolving a body in acid did not refer to her, but was inspired by a moment in the television show Breaking Bad.

Christopher Trybus, of Swindon, Wiltshire, is accused of the manslaughter of Tarryn Baird, who took her own life in November 2017, aged 34.

The 44-year-old software consultant and developer also faces charges of controlling and coercive behaviour and two charges of rape at Winchester Crown Court.

He has denied raping, sexually assaulting, being violent towards, and controlling Baird, along with being responsible for her death.

The coercive control charge alleges Trybus controlled Baird through using and threatening violence towards her, sexually assaulting her and monitoring her whereabouts.

Trybus is also accused of limiting access to her finances, isolating her from her family and threatening to reveal private information about her to them.

Tom Little KC, prosecuting, asked Trybus if he had talked about snapping Baird's neck, cutting her body up and dissolving it in acid.

Trybus told the jury the conversation did not refer to his wife, but had referred to a moment in the crime drama Breaking Bad.

"It was just a conversation, no way was it serious or threats, just something we chatted about.," he said.

"This conversation wasn't about her, it sounds awful now it was about how we got rid of a body."

He added: "We did watch Breaking Bad and I think there was a scene where they dissolve a body.

"It happened on Breaking Bad, it's not something I would seriously consider or think about seriously."

The trial continues.

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