CHRISTINE BANFIELD & JOSEPH RYAN: Virginia vs. Juliana Peres Magalhaes *GUILTY PLEA* & Brendan Banfield for double homicide *TRIAL IN PROGRESS*

Affluent Virginia suburb rocked by mansion murder mystery as nanny faces trial​

Juliana Peres Magalhaes is set to face trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, for second-degree murder in November​

Affluent Virginia suburb rocked by mansion murder mystery as nanny faces trial

A Brazilian au pair charged with murder in connection to a double homicide at her employers' suburban Fairfax County, Virginia, home in February 2023 is set to face trial.

www.foxnews.com

A bucolic Virginia neighborhood. A seemingly normal family of three. A Brazilian au pair. A double murder.

These are all parts of a complex puzzle investigators are still working to determine who killed Christine Banfield — a wife, mother and Fairfax County NICU employee — and Joseph Ryan, the 38-year-old man who showed up at her home armed with a knife, in Herndon, Virginia, in February 2023.

Part of that puzzle is in the process of being solved as Juliana Peres Magalhaes, Banfield's 23-year-old au pair and a Brazilian national, prepares to stand trial for second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime in Ryan's shooting death.

VIRGINIA AU PAIR MURDER: FETISH PLOT, AFFAIR, GUN RANGE TIED TO DOUBLE HOMICIDE AT HOME, PROSECUTORS REVEAL
The mystery began on Feb. 24, 2023, when Magalhaes told police she left Christine and husband Brendan Banfield's home in the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon to take their young daughter to the National Zoo. She told authorities that she had begun driving but realized she forgot the lunches she packed for their excursion back inside the house, so she turned around and noticed an unfamiliar car in the driveway.

She then reportedly called Brendan, a former criminal investigative agent for the IRS who had at that point left for work, and told him about the unknown car in their driveway. The pair decided to meet at the Banfields' home and walk inside together, as the Washington Post reported.

Initially, Magalhaes told police that when she and Brendan walked inside, they saw an unknown man, Ryan, holding Christine at knifepoint. She allegedly described him as an intruder. Ryan was apparently fully clothed while Christine was naked in the main bedroom of the house.

It remains unclear exactly what transpired inside the home that Friday morning, but Magalhaes and Brendan apparently both admitted to shooting Ryan while the man was holding a knife to Christine. Ryan died inside the home while Christine suffered stab wounds to the neck and ultimately died in the hospital.

'We believe in justice for both' | Grand Jury indicts au pair in connection to man's death

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

www.wusa9.com

 

[Regina]

I haven't paid much attention to the trial but I've followed a few lately enough to appreciate how nice it is to watch proceedings where there's no showboating and no melodrama and the judge is decisive and knowledgeable and rarely allows sidebar bs!

 

[GrandmaBear]

I haven't paid much attention to the trial but I've followed a few lately enough to appreciate how nice it is to watch proceedings where there's no showboating and no melodrama and the judge is decisive and knowledgeable and rarely allows sidebar bs!

I agree. I don't like when they make a courtroom like some fictional dramatic TV show and are allowed to get away with doing such, but it really sounds here like the P did not drive home the points they should have. I also have not watched much of it so have listened to this and another take on it. However, the jury can still determine things and come through, just sounds like the P could have done much better. I see some saying the D hasn't been outstanding either though but also heard they have been more so than the P.

So who knows....

 

[Regina]

I agree. I don't like when they make a courtroom like some fictional dramatic TV show and are allowed to get away with doing such, but it really sounds here like the P did not drive home the points they should have. I also have not watched much of it so have listened to this and another take on it. However, the jury can still determine things and come through, just sounds like the P could have done much better. I see some saying the D hasn't been outstanding either though but also heard they have been more so than the P.

So who knows....

It sounds like it'll be over soon which, btw, is to me another indication of a good judge.

I've seen in another trial recently something I haven't seen in I don't know how long- if ever, in real life- and that's a witness sworn in with their left hand on a bible. Interestingly, though, she was the only witness I've seen in that trial who was sworn in that way. (If I recall correctly, she was the lead investigator. Issiah Ross trial, still going on.)

 

[GrandmaBear]

It sounds like it'll be over soon which, btw, is to me another indication of a good judge.

I've seen in another trial recently something I haven't seen in I don't know how long- if ever, in real life- and that's a witness sworn in with their left hand on a bible. Interestingly, though, she was the only witness I've seen in that trial who was sworn in that way. (If I recall correctly, she was the lead investigator. Issiah Ross trial, still going on.)

He said something about the judge too but can't recall what. I think that is a good judge, not sure.

What does the left hand mean?? Don't think I've ever heard of that.

What is Ross about, just in a nutshell?

 

[Regina]

He said something about the judge too but can't recall what. I think that is a good judge, not sure.

What does the left hand mean?? Don't think I've ever heard of that.

What is Ross about, just in a nutshell?

Left hand is on a bible, you know, the way our presidents are sworn into office.

Ross is charged with killing two other teens. He claims it was self-defense. I don't know the motive, but self-defense doesn't make any sense. I saw that he was on the stand yesterday so the end is near, lol.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Left hand is on a bible, you know, the way our presidents are sworn into office.

Ross is charged with killing two other teens. He claims it was self-defense. I don't know the motive, but self-defense doesn't make any sense. I saw that he was on the stand yesterday so the end is near, lol.

Oh sure. I was thinking of raising the hand. Duh on me.

So he's a teen?

 

[Kimster]

Link to live:

 

[Regina]

Oh sure. I was thinking of raising the hand. Duh on me.

So he's a teen?

Yeah, I think he was 17 at the time.
The jury went out around mid-day, Friday (I think it was) and I was disappointed that they didn't come back with a verdict by the end of the day.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Was it yesterday or the day before I gather the testimony was really something, like she had her things all moved into their bedroom basically instantly, now replacing Christine.

Most say the trial itself over was dull, neither side did great? It's clear for the splashingless what happened and the "au pair" made for headlines, the trial itself was very tamped down and not sensational. I think there's nothing wrong with being ethical and not overdoing the dramatics either but it also sounds like maybe not the best job by either attorney.

I haven't paid close attention, did watch a bit of a recap here and there but not faithfully as I would have in cases I followed far more closely.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah, I think he was 17 at the time.
The jury went out around mid-day, Friday (I think it was) and I was disappointed that they didn't come back with a verdict by the end of the day.

So that other one is over then? Just waiting for a verdict?

 

[Regina]

So that other one is over then? Just waiting for a verdict?

Yeah. Word is they'll be back Tues..

 

[Regina]

Was it yesterday or the day before I gather the testimony was really something, like she had her things all moved into their bedroom basically instantly, now replacing Christine.

Most say the trial itself over was dull, neither side did great? It's clear for the splashingless what happened and the "au pair" made for headlines, the trial itself was very tamped down and not sensational. I think there's nothing wrong with being ethical and not overdoing the dramatics either but it also sounds like maybe not the best job by either attorney.

I haven't paid close attention, did watch a bit of a recap here and there but not faithfully as I would have in cases I followed far more closely.

I've hardly watched any of the trial at all but I do know that the defense attorney said Banfield will testify. I think he's the next and last witness.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah. Word is they'll be back Tues..

Meaning they have one you mean and that is the day they will be back in session?

 

[GrandmaBear]

I've hardly watched any of the trial at all but I do know that the defense attorney said Banfield will testify. I think he's the next and last witness.

Yeah I heard he is expected to testify too. THAT might be interesting... That I'd maybe watch. All he does is sit there trying to look innocent and scribbling probably notes ALL of the time... Even at times nothing is notable enough to argue or jot down imo lol Maybe he hopes to write a book.

I've watched blips here and there just not very committed to it nor watched a lot.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Finally Banfield is next to testify. Judge just asked him and he said yes. She informed him that the commonwealth on cross can ask him things not asked in direct.

I haven't watched this closely at all, hardly any, but I'm going to watch this. He is taking the stand now!

 

[GrandmaBear]

Anyone who wants a quick live link to watching him testify live I'm putting one here. Cross will be the interesting part imo!

 

[GrandmaBear]

Defense so far is building him up to be a good husband, parent, involved with his wife, knowing her jobs, how they met, how much time they spent together, etc. Now he's waxing on on how he taught is daughter letters and words and letter combinations, etc. He made things for her to work on, now it's legos and projects. He talks to his daughter now every day...

Sickening imo. Means nothing. NOTHING. On and on about the things he taught his daughter, oh and now the three of them (mom too) spent a lot of time in nature...

I suppose cross won't happen til tomorrow but i can hope...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Defense so far is building him up to be a good husband, parent, involved with his wife, knowing her jobs, how they met, how much time they spent together, etc. Now he's waxing on on how he taught is daughter letters and words and letter combinations, etc. He made things for her to work on, now it's legos and projects. He talks to his daughter now every day...

Sickening imo. Means nothing. NOTHING. On and on about the things he taught his daughter, oh and now the three of them (mom too) spent a lot of time in nature...

I suppose cross won't happen til tomorrow but i can hope...

Loves his daughter, loved his wife, yada, yada, yada...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Showing pics of trips, etc. Outrageous. Trying to show him as a great father and hub I guess. Who does that impress? Not any smart juror or me.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Tons of time so far showing pics and trying to portray a good marriage, hub, father. They keep at it and prosecution just decided enough is enough and objected to relevance. Obvious too it's practiced and coached.