Two Officers Investigated for Misconduct in Baird Suicide Case

Two officers with Wiltshire Police are facing potential gross misconduct investigations following the suicide of Tarryn Baird, whose husband Christopher Trybus was acquitted of manslaughter charges. According to BBC, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining whether opportunities were missed during the initial investigation into Baird's death in November 2017.

The IOPC confirmed it is investigating two officers: one who attended the scene after Baird was found dead and another who was involved in the investigation but has since retired. The force said it would not comment at this time, as reported by BBC. Trybus, 44, had been on trial accused of manslaughter but was found not guilty of all charges by a jury at Winchester Crown Court.

The couple were married in South Africa in 2009 and later moved to the UK. An employee of Swindon Women's Aid told the court that Baird reported multiple incidents of violence prior to her death, per BBC. Trybus denied all charges, claiming his wife had mental health issues due to post-traumatic stress disorder caused by witnessing an armed carjacking incident in South Africa. He also claimed she bruised easily and blamed some injuries on a foam roller.

The IOPC's investigation comes after Wiltshire Police made a mandatory referral following previous contact with Baird. The force said it first referred the case to the IOPC in November 2017, but an initial criminal investigation found no further action was to be taken against Trybus. Evidence identified later led to the reopening of the criminal case in 2020, which Dorset Police eventually took on after a review decided an independent police force should carry out the investigation.