VA - Herndon, Joseph Ryan shot, Christine Banfield stabbed, both deceased, in home - Feb 2023

[Luna20]

Oh this is Johnny Depp's civil case judge!

I listened to the opening statement earlier and my jaw was on the floor! What a convoluted, evil plot! Wow wow wow

Yes! She was great in the Depp trial.

 

[Luna20]

If you prefer no commentary, watch the trial on Law & Crime on YouTube.

I’m going to try again. Last time I tried to watch on L&C it was a maze and the link didn’t take me to the live stream. I much rather no commentary.

 

[Luna20]

Court TV is doing a good job. They have the camera aimed at Brendan Banfield as he listens to his cohort (Juliana Peres Magalhaes) on the 911 call. With furrowed brow, looking all sad, he is fidgeting uncomfortably in his seat. He stabbed his wife. What a stellar guy -- who was employed by the federal government, no less.

He keeps his head down and starts writing when the worst things are being said. He doesn’t want to make eye contact with anyone. Guilty tactics.

I wonder if he is going to blame it on her. Ugh, he is so disgusting and pathetic.

 

[skyedaze]

Gross he shot the guy in the head and he did not die right away....so then she finally shot him as well.
Just awful. Then he stabbed his wife to death himself.
What a POC!
While the little girl was in the basement thinking she was going to the zoo.
Divorce not an option because he didn't want to lose any money.
smh

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

More of Juliana’s testimony

 

[helpfulcharlie]

I don't find Juliana very bright, but I do find her somewhat believable. This is one of the most bungled "perfect crime" attempts I've ever seen.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I don't find Juliana very bright, but I do find her somewhat believable. This is one of the most bungled "perfect crime" attempts I've ever seen.

Agree.

 

[helpfulcharlie]

To me it feels like he was on the fence as to her involvement, and adjusted her involvement by the seat of his pants at various decision points, and didn't adequately prepare her to be a full partner OR shield her to innocently back up his claims. Poor communication, which, ironically, is probably what led to his marital dissatisfaction in the first place.

 

[DropthePuck]

Many extramarital affairs? Geez, I just don't see it. He must have one helluva good line because physically he is bordering on gross.

I don't see it, either. He's a total schlub.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

15 min. recess. Back at approx. 11:30 AM Eastern Time.


I think my computer speakers are dying an untimely death -- they are old, like me.

I have thesame untimely death going on.... I can just never hear these video clips...

 

[alexwood]

I have thesame untimely death going on.... I can just never hear these video clips...

Funny enough, I have no problem hearing other videos I watch on YouTube. I think it is the acoustics of the different courtrooms that make it difficult to hear well. But, in my case, headphones would probably work the best. I've never tried them.

 

[alexwood]

I think Brendan Banfield wanted Magalhaes' prints on a gun. That's why he directed her to go to the closet and into the safe to retrieve the gun. He wanted her to be equally culpable should the ruse be revealed. He had his own service weapon -- another weapon wasn't needed -- but didn't want to "overfire" it (made up word by me), lest it appear that he was shooting to kill, rather than merely shooting to disable Joseph Ryan. (IMO)

 

[Weki]

What is the defense strategy here? I'm watching this cross of the au pair and I'm not seeing how defense can make it out so that their client is not guilty in these heinous murders? I have no sympathy for this woman and it's horrifying that she's basically getting away with murder but there's nothing you can do to discredit her on the basic facts. JMO

 

[Weki]

The defense attorney's tone is interesting. He's quite deferential to this witness who is burying his client. His defense is that she's seen the evidence and is working for the state. She's testifying based on the evidence that she's seen and not based on the truth. But his tone is as if he's talking to a child so it all feels incongruent. Or is that the point? She's a child who's being manipulated by the state? She's 25!

JMO

 

[alexwood]

I am understanding her testimony with his questioning better than I was yesterday with the State's questioning. The State has prepared her very well (IMO). Her command of the English language is excellent. She is intelligent. The stupid decision she made to follow along with his plan is tragic all the way around. I think she could have had a better life here.

 

[Weki]

I am understanding her testimony with his questioning better than I was yesterday with the State's questioning. The State has prepared her very well (IMO). Her command of the English language is excellent. She is intelligent. The stupid decision she made to follow along with his plan is tragic all the way around. I think she could have had a better life here.

It sounds like he's trying to show her lawyer sucked and that's why she decided to "work for the state" and forgo a trial. He has not touched any of the basic facts of the crime yet. Judge finally asked if he has "many more letters" to get through before giving the jury a break. This has been a slog imo. I'm behind on the feed so maybe it picks up.

 

[Sundog]

I'm just starting to read about this trial and haven't caught up on this thread yet. If anyone has the time, can you tell me what plea deal the nanny negotiated with the state? I can't imagine this person ever being released into society again and the communities she lives in ever being safe from a person with her mindset. So wonder what kind of sentence she was facing for her crimes before she agreed to be a witness for the state and what kind of sentence she is facing now, given her cooperation with the state to testify against the husband she plotted with.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I think Brendan Banfield wanted Magalhaes' prints on a gun. That's why he directed her to go to the closet and into the safe to retrieve the gun. He wanted her to be equally culpable should the ruse be revealed. He had his own service weapon -- another weapon wasn't needed -- but didn't want to "overfire" it (made up word by me), lest it appear that he was shooting to kill, rather than merely shooting to disable Joseph Ryan. (IMO)

I am still confused that he had her get a gun from the safe rather than use the one he had given her that was in her POCKET?

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I'm just starting to read about this trial and haven't caught up on this thread yet. If anyone has the time, can you tell me what plea deal the nanny negotiated with the state? I can't imagine this person ever being released into society again and the communities she lives in ever being safe from a person with her mindset. So wonder what kind of sentence she was facing for her crimes before she agreed to be a witness for the state and what kind of sentence she is facing now, given her cooperation with the state to testify against the husband she plotted with.

She will be deported after testimony, time served will be only sentence.

 

[Sundog]

She will be deported after testimony, time served will be only sentence.

Thanks for this information.