A Virginia man is on trial, accused of orchestrating an elaborate double murder plot in collaboration with his family's Brazilian au pair, with whom he was having an affair.
The Prosecution's Case: A Fatal Conspiracy
Brendan Banfield, 40, stands accused of the aggravated murder of his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan in February 2023 at the family home in Fairfax County. Lead prosecutor Jenna Sands outlined a shocking case to the court on Tuesday 13 January 2026. She alleged that Banfield, unwilling to risk a custody battle in a divorce, conspired with the au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 25, to kill his wife.
The prosecution claims the pair impersonated Christine on a social media site for sexual fetishes to lure Mr Ryan. They allegedly arranged a scenario where Mr Ryan would act out a rape fantasy, instructing him not to stop "even if she was calling for help." Ms Sands described the grim scene: Banfield allegedly entered the bedroom, shot Mr Ryan in the head, then used Mr Ryan's knife to repeatedly stab Christine in the neck. He then allegedly directed Magalhaes to shoot Mr Ryan a second time in the chest.
The Defence and a Key Witness's Plea Deal
Banfield's defence lawyer, John Carroll, strongly disputes this narrative. He told the court that digital forensics would show Christine Banfield engaged directly with Mr Ryan on the site. "You're going to see a presentation of a horrible, tragic, awful event," he said, arguing there is "an awful lot more to look for."
The case hinges significantly on the testimony of Juliana Peres Magalhaes. She has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter for her role and agreed to testify against Banfield as part of a plea deal. The defence contends she changed her story after a year of maintaining her innocence to secure this deal, claiming "The whole reason she was arrested was to flip her against my client."
Consequences and Ongoing Trial
The tragic events unfolded in the family home while the couple's daughter was present. Banfield also faces charges of child abuse and child cruelty related to her presence. He denies all charges. If convicted of murder, he faces life in prison. The trial in Fairfax continues.
