Jurors in Northern Virginia continue deliberations against Brendan Banfield, accused of killing his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan, a man who had been allegedly lured to the couple’s Reston home.
According to FOX 5 DC, the jury returned to the Fairfax court Monday morning. Banfield is accused of plotting with the family’s au pair, Peres Magalhães, to murder his wife so he could start a new life with Magalhães.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Magalhães, a Brazilian national, left Banfield’s home at about 7:30 a.m. on February 24, 2023, with the Banfields’ 4-year-old daughter.
While she took the child to the National Zoo in D.C., she returned to the home, claiming she forgot their bagged lunches. Magalhães told investigators she saw an unfamiliar vehicle and a man at the residence and contacted Brendan Banfield.
She then claimed she went in the home and hid in the basement with the child, as the defendant arrived at the residence and went to the master suite bedroom.
Police later found Christine with seven stab wounds to her neck. Ryan had been fatally shot.
Magalhães initially denied involvement. In 2024, she pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, in connection with Ryan’s death, and agreed to testify against the defendant as part of a plea deal.
The prosecution argued that Magalhães and Banfield had been having an affair. Magalhães testified that they had a “plan to get rid of” his wife and began setting up accounts in Christine’s name on sexual fetish sites.
Defense attorney John Carroll, however, argued that the story had been fabricated.
“Juliana made it up,” Carroll said. “She told the commonwealth what they wanted to hear and without question they just took it as their story.”
Carroll also argued that Banfield acted in self-defense after being attacked by Joseph Ryan in the bedroom. Ryan had allegedly been lured to the home via the fake fetish website.
The prosecution argued that Banfield feared losing the au pair, and concocted a plan to frame Ryan.
“He executed his plan to murder his wife and an innocent stranger. He was in love with Juliana. He can pretend this was a fling, an affair. He had them before, no big deal. He was in love with Juliana. He was afraid of losing her,” Fairfax County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jenna Sands stated.
“He needed to get rid of his wife, so that they could be together. Mr. Banfield gave you zero explanation for any of this evidence. They have provided no explanation for Christine’s blood smeared on the right hand of Joe Ryan, leaving voids between the fingers.”
In addition to murder, Banfield is facing charges that include:
- Child abuse
- Child cruelty
- Firearms offenses
Jurors began their deliberations on Friday. Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Center: Christine Banfield/family handout. Left, Brendan Banfield and right, Juliana Peres Magalhaes/Fairfax County Police Department]
