A young girl whose father was having an affair with her nanny asked if the pair were going to marry just hours after they allegedly killed her mother, a jury in Virginia has heard in a harrowing murder trial.
Trial Reveals Twisted Plot and Child's Innocent Question
Brendan Banfield, aged 39, is currently on trial for the brutal February 2023 killings of his wife, Christine Banfield, and a stranger named Joseph Ryan at their family home in northern Virginia. Prosecutors allege he stabbed Christine, 37, to death in their marital bed as part of a calculated scheme to be with his 25-year-old Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães.
In a disturbing twist, the court heard how a fake sexual profile was created in Christine's name without her knowledge, claiming she wanted to experience a rape fantasy. Joseph Ryan responded to this profile and was subsequently killed by Banfield as part of what prosecutors describe as an elaborate plan to frame Ryan for Christine's murder and allow Banfield to be with Magalhães.
Daughter's Poignant Question Hours After Tragedy
According to testimony from a police victim advocate reported by the Washington Post, mere hours after Christine's death, her then four-year-old daughter turned to Magalhães and asked, 'Are you going to marry my daddy?' The advocate testified that Magalhães replied, 'I wish,' and stated this interaction was one of the first indicators that Banfield was concealing something sinister.
Banfield faces charges of aggravated murder for the deaths of Christine and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan. He has entered a plea of not guilty and could potentially face life imprisonment if convicted. The former IRS agent, whose daughter was present in the house on the morning of the killings, also faces additional charges of child abuse and felony child cruelty in connection with the case, which will be addressed during the trial.
Court Sees Distressing Police Body Camera Footage
The jury was shown police body camera footage recorded in the immediate aftermath of the slayings, capturing what one officer described as Banfield having a 'breakdown.' The footage reportedly showed Banfield breathing heavily and inquiring about his daughter as officers escorted him to an ambulance.
A first responder, noticing Banfield was covered in blood, asked if it was his own. The former IRS agent struggled to respond before stating he had been holding Christine's neck after the attack. He repeatedly asked to be with his wife and, through sobs, questioned, 'What's going to happen with my daughter? Are they going to tell her? She's only 4.'
Hospital Prayers and Medical Revelations
Upon arrival at the hospital, a doctor informed Banfield that Christine had lost a significant amount of blood and had died. Banfield explained how he called emergency services and attempted to apply pressure to her wounds, but the doctor insisted it was 'not a survivable injury.' The footage also captured Banfield asking a hospital chaplain to pray for his wife, with the pair reciting the Lord's Prayer together.
'Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,' Banfield choked out between sobs. 'Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' The chaplain recited the prayer in unison with him.
Defense Challenges Investigation as Nanny Testifies
Banfield's defence attorneys have spent much of the week attempting to persuade the jury that investigators prematurely jumped to conclusions. They argued that police were selectively searching for evidence to fit a pre-determined narrative.
However, Detective Leah Smith, who testified on Thursday, disputed this claim. She alleged that authorities initially probed 'two theories in the case.' One theory involved 'catfishing,' and the other, which emerged days after the killing, was that Banfield had murdered his wife. Detective Smith added that investigators on the case knew to 'investigate with an open mind even if that might not be along the lines of what supervisors wanted us to investigate.'
Nanny's Testimony Details BDSM Site Lure and Guilty Plea
Juliana Peres Magalhães, who took the stand earlier in the trial, provided detailed testimony about how she and Banfield lured Joseph Ryan to the house using a BDSM website. The pair then shot him, staging the scene to make it appear as though Ryan had been a predator who stabbed Banfield.
'I just couldn't keep it to myself, the feeling of shame and guilt and sadness,' she told the court regarding the deceptive plot. The former au pair was initially charged with second-degree murder in Ryan's killing but has since pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of manslaughter.
Magalhães testified that she and Banfield created an account in Christine's name on a social media platform catering to individuals interested in sexual fetishes. Ryan connected with this account, and plans were made to meet for a sexual encounter involving a knife.
Scrutiny of Testimony and Jailhouse Letters
In her testimony, Magalhães described Banfield's plan to kill his wife and spend the rest of his life with her. She detailed the months he spent plotting their scheme and the steps taken to manufacture alibis.
John Carroll, Banfield's attorney, rigorously scrutinised her initial testimony and her motives for pleading guilty. He pressed her on who created the email address linked to the social media account and their whereabouts on the day it was procured. Magalhães testified that she could not remember who made the account or which room in the Banfield home they were in at the time.
The defence attorney repeatedly questioned her about specific messages sent from the account in Christine's name. Magalhães, appearing annoyed, repeatedly stated she was unsure who had sent what. At one point, she told Carroll, 'I am not going to do this.'
Revealing Jailhouse Correspondence and Motives
Carroll also asked Magalhães to read portions from letters she had written from jail to Banfield and others. These letters expressed profound depression and frustration with her situation. 'No strength. No courage. No hope,' she wrote at one point.
Magalhães testified that her deteriorating health in jail and isolation from loved ones contributed to her decision to turn on Banfield. She also claimed that Banfield felt he could not simply leave his wife, leading them to hatch a plan to 'get rid' of Christine so they could be together.
The nanny stated Banfield told her he couldn't separate from his wife because she would end up with more money than him, and it would not be beneficial for their child. 'Money was involved,' Magalhães told the court, adding that Banfield had no intention of sharing custody of his young daughter with Christine.
Swift Move into Marital Bed and Altered Home
The trial heard last week that Magalhães moved into Banfield's marital bed very quickly after his wife's death. Police photographed the home in February 2023 as part of the murder investigation, documenting both the primary bedroom and Magalhães's room.
When officials returned to the residence eight months later, it was evident the au pair was already sleeping in the bed Banfield previously shared with Christine. Fairfax County Sgt. Kenner Fortner told jurors how 'red, lingerie-style clothing items' and a specific yellow t-shirt that had previously been in the au pair's closet had been relocated to the master bedroom.
'They had gotten new flooring, new bedroom furniture,' Fortner added, noting how photographs that once featured the Banfields had been 'taken down and replaced with Brendan and Juliana together.' Investigators also found the knife used to stab Christine Banfield tucked into the marital bed, along with two handguns in the master bedroom that detectives determined had been moved from their original locations.
Magalhães is scheduled to be sentenced following the conclusion of Banfield's trial. Depending on her level of cooperation with authorities, her attorneys have indicated she could be sentenced to time already served.
