An au pair has told a Virginia court that her lover, a husband accused of a double murder, felt he had to 'get rid' of his wife so they could be together. Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, gave evidence against Brendan Banfield, 39, who is on trial for the alleged killings of his wife Christine, 37, and a stranger, Joseph Ryan, 39, on February 24, 2023.
The Alleged Motive Behind a Twisted Plan
Testifying in Fairfax County Court on Tuesday, Magalhães stated that Banfield did not believe he could simply leave his wife. She claimed he said divorce 'was not an option' because money was involved. According to her testimony, Banfield feared his wife would end up with more money than him in a divorce and was unwilling to share custody of their young daughter.
The nanny claimed the defendant first opened up about his thoughts of killing Christine during a trip to New York with her and his daughter. After returning to Virginia, she said Banfield told her about the BDSM fetish website FetLife. Prosecutors allege the pair collaborated to lure Ryan to the family home by creating a fake advert under Christine's name, intending to frame him for her murder.
Staging the Scene and the Night of the Killings
Magalhães described in detail how they allegedly prepared for the crime. She said Banfield would only message strangers on the site while his wife was home to align with phone records. The pair reportedly visited a gun range twice before creating the FetLife account. They also tested scream volumes inside the house to see if they could be heard outside.
Magalhães told the court she posed as Christine during a phone call with Ryan, who was allegedly surprised by her accent. Ryan sent a photo of the knife he planned to bring; Banfield reportedly commented he had expected a sharper, more 'pointy' knife. On the day, prosecutors say Banfield used an app on his wife's phone to unlock the home for Ryan.
In horrific testimony, Magalhães recalled the moment Banfield allegedly shot Ryan as he was on top of Christine with a knife. She described how Banfield then began repeatedly stabbing his wife as she, Magalhães, tried to look away.
Plea Deal and Defence Counterclaims
Juliana Peres Magalhães has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter as part of a plea deal in exchange for her cooperation in prosecuting Banfield. However, the defence has sought to undermine her credibility. In his opening statement, Banfield's lawyer, John Carroll, claimed, 'The whole reason she was arrested was to flip her against my client.' He admitted the affair but insisted 'there’s an awful lot more to look for'.
Prosecutors noted that Magalhães called 911 at least twice on the day of the killings but hung up before speaking. Over ten minutes later, she made a final call to report the emergency. Investigators grew suspicious after she and Banfield initially failed to disclose their romance. Police uncovered evidence of a secret lovers' getaway and noted that Magalhães had moved into the main bedroom just eight months after the murders.
Brendan Banfield, a former IRS officer, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He faces four counts of aggravated murder, firearm offenses, and additional charges of child abuse and neglect because his four-year-old daughter was home during the alleged crimes. The trial continues.
