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

[Izzylizzy]

 

[alexwood]

Christine was so smart, beautiful and accomplished. She deserved so much better than Brendan Banfield. He told Magalhaes that Christine didn't care where he was, or what he was doing. That she did not care at all about HIM. She was helpless and lazy. Oh, right. Christine was too busy being an ICU nurse, the best mother a child could have, and a wife, all at the same time. All he had to do was worry about his "Willie." She should have freed it a long time go.

 

[mickey2942]

Brendan reportedly has been having affairs since before they were married. He told other affair partners of his desire to get rid of Christine. It’s a shame they extended Juliana when her contract was up rather than sending her back to Brazil. He had not found other takers to help with his “plan.” Christine and Joe might still be alive.

I see Juliana as being far more involved, and possibly even the instigator of the plan. I don't see her as the innocent victim bystander here.

Not a fan of hiring nannies from foreign countries. It smacks of exploitation. INMO. Plenty of gals in the United States to hire. I don't even know how these agencies get around the laws on this.

 

[BrownRice]

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

Where did you see that? Everything I’ve read says she will be sentenced after this trial.

 

[Wishbone]

Where did you see that? Everything I’ve read says she will be sentenced after this trial.

Juliana Magalhaes, the au pair with whom Banfield was having an affair, has agreed to testify as part of a plea deal she accepted. In exchange for her testimony, she will plead to the lesser charge of manslaughter and walk free because of the time she already served, before being deported to Brazil.

Jury selected in the Brendan Banfield double murder trial after several hours

After a little more than three hours, the prosecution and defense were able to come to an agreement Monday on the jury that will decide the double murder case o

wset.com

 

[mickey2942]

Where did you see that? Everything I’ve read says she will be sentenced after this trial.

I think that because she is testifying against Ryan, she got her charges down to "Manslaughter" and will be sentenced in February. She can get up to 10 years.

Brazilian au pair takes plea deal, cooperates in Virginia double-murder case against former boss

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph Ryan last year at the home where she worked for Brendan and Christine Banfield.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[alexwood]

I think that because she is testifying against Ryan, she got her charges down to "Manslaughter" and will be sentenced in February. She can get up to 10 years.

Brazilian au pair takes plea deal, cooperates in Virginia double-murder case against former boss

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph Ryan last year at the home where she worked for Brendan and Christine Banfield.

www.nbcnews.com

She will be sentenced after Brendan Banfield's trial. According to the the plea agreement, she will be released as having served her time -- which for manslaughter carries a term of 10 years. So she will be deemed to have served the 10 years (even though she did not). From what I have read, at the time she is sentenced, she will then be deported.

Good riddance. She is not wanted here in the U.S. We have enough criminals who are born and bred here in the U.S.A., we don't need to import them.

She will go on to sell the rights to her "story", which may include a film, for mere pennies on the dollar. That will be her future.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Juliana Magalhaes, the au pair with whom Banfield was having an affair, has agreed to testify as part of a plea deal she accepted. In exchange for her testimony, she will plead to the lesser charge of manslaughter and walk free because of the time she already served, before being deported to Brazil.

Jury selected in the Brendan Banfield double murder trial after several hours

After a little more than three hours, the prosecution and defense were able to come to an agreement Monday on the jury that will decide the double murder case o

wset.com

The CW may recommend time-served but the judge does not have to take their recommendation.

imo

 

[alexwood]

From the January 14, 2026 article, linked below:

"Juliana Peres Magalhaes, the au pair with whom Banfield was having an affair, has agreed to testify as part of a plea deal she accepted. In exchange for her testimony, she will plead to the lesser charge of manslaughter and walk free because of the time she already served, before being deported to Brazil."

Brendan Banfield trial begins with opening statements, au pair testimony in Virginia court

 

[helpfulcharlie]

So I think I understand the confusing language about the gun, from listening to her testimony and kind of reading between the lines of what she said, as well as what the crappy lawyer didn't ask. I think Brendan told her to get the gun from the safe, but, saucy little drama-queen minx that she is, she already had it in her pocket. She might have even had to pretend to go get it so that he didn't discover her preemptive transgression.

I think her deceptive tendencies are shining through here in glimmers and sparks, and I hope to soon hear the real meat of the Commonwealth's evidence against both of them.

And I hope when this is all over that the sentencing recommendations are ignored and she does more time here before being sent home. Neither of them may be the sharpest tools in the shed, but she participated and enabled this crime.

I also have a problem with Brendan's mother, who had to have known what transpired.

 

[Wishbone]

The CW may recommend time-served but the judge does not have to take their recommendation.

imo

whatever she gets instead of the max for the murder she was a huge part of will not be enough. JMOO

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Trial exhibits posted here, warning that many are quite graphic.

High-Profile Cases | Circuit Court

Fairfax County, Virginia - Orders from high-profile Circuit Court cases.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

So I think I understand the confusing language about the gun, from listening to her testimony and kind of reading between the lines of what she said, as well as what the crappy lawyer didn't ask. I think Brendan told her to get the gun from the safe, but, saucy little drama-queen minx that she is, she already had it in her pocket. She might have even had to pretend to go get it so that he didn't discover her preemptive transgression.

I think her deceptive tendencies are shining through here in glimmers and sparks, and I hope to soon hear the real meat of the Commonwealth's evidence against both of them.

And I hope when this is all over that the sentencing recommendations are ignored and she does more time here before being sent home. Neither of them may be the sharpest tools in the shed, but she participated and enabled this crime.

I also have a problem with Brendan's mother, who had to have known what transpired.

Earlier yesterday she said she had a gun in the pocket of her sweater in the car. The gun in the safe was a 3rd gun of Brendan’s.

I hope his mother is charged with obstruction at minimum. Remember this?
PROSECUTION ARGUES: 66 Banfield's mother visited the Au Pair and had a
conversation about what happens to snitches in jail?"

Tess Banfield is almost as disordered as her son. That she kept the poor little girl away from Christine’s family is horrible.

 

[helpfulcharlie]

Trial exhibits posted here, warning that many are quite graphic.

High-Profile Cases | Circuit Court

Fairfax County, Virginia - Orders from high-profile Circuit Court cases.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov

OMG. I'm astounded that they would make the graphic images public.

 

[Charlot123]

This kills me. Her performance.
Au Pair Juliana Magalhaes video

When I watched the video of the Au Pair at the murder scene, outside the Banfield's home, I kept thinking that her performance reminded me of another crime. It was the case of Chacey Poynter, who murdered her fire captain husband, with the help of her lover.

Fast forward to 0:51 timestamp
Chacey Poynter

Two Stanislavski method actresses. /s

 

[Charlot123]

Christine was so smart, beautiful and accomplished. She deserved so much better than Brendan Banfield. He told Magalhaes that Christine didn't care where he was, or what he was doing. That she did not care at all about HIM. She was helpless and lazy. Oh, right. Christine was too busy being an ICU nurse, the best mother a child could have, and a wife, all at the same time. All he had to do was worry about his "Willie." She should have freed it a long time go.

Two people lost their lives so that a young, but stupid and log-shaped au pair could wear another woman's dresses.

 

[Luna20]

I don’t know what to make of the defense attorney. Talking slowly and calmly may be a strategy that works for him. I can see that to some degree but he is just flat.

Why did he ask JM if she wanted to read the letters more than once? I would have responded with the same answer ‘if you would like me to’.

What will BB defence be? Even without speaking his demeanour is that of total guilt. He has barely picked his head up. And of course, writing as though it is a thesis.

 

[Megnut]

Notably BB can't be bothered to look at the exhibits. Apparently something is very important as he's taking notes feverishly.

I will never understand lovahs who unite in murder in order to further their relationship. How do you ever dare close both eyes?

It is sad that the lows of human nature never cease going lower.

JMO

 

[Weki]

Imagine being the defendant who thinks he was so clever and had thought through every thing to avoid getting caught. And now he's sitting there just aghast that all his efforts were so easily detected!! I wonder what goes through his mind. He probably thinks ugh I should have done this and this instead and I would've never gotten caught.

 

[Voidz]

I notice her lawyer has changed her image for the stand - no longer blonde. Now wearing glasses and a moustache.

We all see through this nonsense.

She is just as guilty as the husband for the murder.

Photo source: AP.