Brendan Banfield is accused of killing his wife Christine Banfield, and a stranger, Joseph Ryan, 39, on February 24, 2023

Banfield faces four charges of aggravated murder and firearm offenses for the murder of Christine, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 39

The family’s au pair who became his lover at the time testifying in a Virginia court accused him of murdering his wife to ‘get rid’ of her so they could be together

Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, testified that Brendan Banfield, 39, did not feel he could just leave his wife Christine Banfield, 37, and so hatched the twisted murder plot

Prosecutors said he lured Ryan to his home after making a fake advert for a BDSM website under his wife’s name in order to make it seem like he had killed her

While Banfield, a former IRS officer, has denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to all charges, his au pair lover pled guilty to manslaughter in exchange for her testimony against Banfield

However, the au pair testified that Banfield told her divorce was not an option . . ….’Money was involved’ 

That Banfield had no plans to share custody of his young daughter with his wife – because she would end up having more money than he would

The Banfield ‘s nanny Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, testified on Tuesday in Fairfax County court explaining the reasoning behind Brendan Banfield’s alleged plot ‘to get rid of his wife, Christine

The au pair lover of a husband accused of murdering his wife told a Virginia court he had to ‘get rid’ of her so they could be together.
Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, testified that Brendan Banfield, 39, did not feel he could just leave his wife Christine Banfield, 37, and so hatched the twisted plan.
On February 24, 2023, Joseph Ryan was found shot dead inside the Banfield’s $1million mansion in Herndon, Virginia. Christine Banfield was also found fatally stabbed after being attacked in her bedroom.
Banfield is accused of killing his wife and a stranger, Joseph Ryan on February 24, 2023.
Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhães, the family’s Brazilian au pair both claimed they entered the home to find Joseph Ryan attacking Christine.
Banfield, a law enforcement officer for the IRS, grabbed his service gun shot and injured Ryan, according to his police statement, adding that he then ordered Peres Magalhaes to grab another gun and shoot Ryan again. The au pair allegedly did as she was ordered, killing the intruder.
But at the preliminary hearing, prosecutors said the evidence points to a different story, suggesting Ryan was gunned down as part of a confusing scheme to get rid of Christine so Brendan and Peres Magalhaes could be together romantically. 
Banfield prosecutors said, lured Ryan to his home after making a fake advert for a BDSM website under his wife’s name in order to make frame the total stranger for the planned killing of his wife. 

Former IRS officer Brendan Banfield [photo], faces four charges of aggravated murder and firearm offenses for the murder of his wife, Christine Banfield, along with Joseph Ryan, a stranger, he’d lured to his home, on February 24, 2023

While the former IRS law enforcement officer has denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to all charges Peres Magalhaes has since pled guilty to manslaughter in exchange for her cooperation in the prosecution of her lover. The au pair on the stand contradicted the version of her co-conspirator
Banfield told her that divorce was not an option, that ‘Money was involved,’ Magalhães testified Tuesday in Fairfax County Court.
She added that Banfield had no plans to share custody of his young daughter with his murdered wife.
He couldn’t split from his wife because she would end up having more money than he would, in addition to not being good for their child.
During a trip to New York with Banfield and his daughter, he opened confided his thoughts about getting rid of Christine. Following up on their return to Virginia, he told her about the website FetLife, a BDSM fetish website, Magalhães told the court.
Prosecutors said Magalhães and Banfield worked as team to lure Ryan to the home through the site, then staged the scene to make it look like he killed Christine.

While Brendan Banfield [left], has been charged with killing his wife Christine [right] and James Ryan. he also faces child abuse and neglect charges because their toddler was at home at the time of the killings

The nanny said Banfield orchestrated the lead up to the killings. He would only message strangers while his wife was home to ensure phone records would match up. The conspirators also went to a gun range on two separate occasions before the Fetlife account was made.
When Brendan met Ryan through the site, Magalhães said: ‘He made Brendan feel confident enough that he would be the person to play the role, which means being aggressive and hold her down and come over to the house and bring stuff and all that.’
She added that they also spoke on Telegram in another account that Banfield created. The au pair told the court she posed as Christine during a phone call with Ryan, who she said was surprised by her accent.
Ryan allegedly sent a photo of the knife he planned to bring to the encounter and  Magalhães testified that Banfield said he was expecting a sharper, more ‘pointy’ knife that would be easier to use.

Banfield and Magalhães allegedly framed Joseph Ryan for Christine’s murder after luring him with a fake account they created for Christine on a BDSM site, made bogus plans to have ‘rough sex’ before killing the pair

She described how they prepared for the execution with sound checks on screaming inside the house to verify they were not audible outside.
Magalhães also added that Banfield used an app on his wife’s phone to unlock his home for Ryan.
She recounted in detail how the Banfield allegedly shot Ryan as he was on top of Christine with a knife.
He then proceeded to stab Christine repeatedly, as Magalhães tried to look away.
Following the au pair’s plea deal, Banfield’s lawyer, John Carroll, in his opening statement, sought to undermine her testimony.
‘The whole reason she was arrested was to flip her against my client,’ Carroll said.
He admitted the two were having an affair but insisted, ‘there’s an awful lot more to look for’.

Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhaes, then 23, and her boss Brendan Banfield were having an affair detectives figured when they returned to the home after the killings and found several framed photos of the now-couple in the bedroom where Christine died, her lingerie around the room,

Peres Magalhaes, pled guilty to manslaughter in exchange for testifying against her former employer and lover

On the day of the killings, prosecutors said Magalhães called 911 at least twice within minutes but ended the calls before speaking with first responders.
More than 10 minutes later, prosecutors alleged in court, Magalhães called 911 a final time and reported the emergency.
Prosecutors said evidence suggested Ryan was gunned down as part of a scheme to get rid of Christine.
Investigators first became suspicious about Magalhães’ story after she and Banfield failed to disclose their alleged romance when speaking to detectives.
Police said they uncovered evidence of a secret lovers’ getaway and pointed out that just eight months after the killings, Magalhães had moved into the main bedroom.
Aside of his ongoing trial on four charges of aggravated murder and firearm offenses, Banfield also faces child abuse and neglect charges because his four-year-old daughter was at home when the alleged murders occurred.