VA - Joseph Ryan shot, Christine Banfield stabbed, both deceased, in home - Herndon 24 Feb 2023

[LifeIsAMystery]

Very curious if Brendan will take the stand, what do folks think?

 

[Megnut]

Very curious if Brendan will take the stand, what do folks think?

I say no.

However, will the Defense rest? I know they SAY they have witnesses to call.... but he hasn't got a credible defense so maybe the less they say, the better?

 

[Izzylizzy]

1 hour ago

 

[Izzylizzy]

Prosecution claimed in opening that the expert in blood splatter evidence is more important than au-pair Juliana's testimony.
Clunky and ill-prepared says Peter @ LYK.

How Blood Spatter Analysis Solves Crimes - Phlebotomy USA

Explore what blood pattern analysis is and how it helps solve crimes. Understand the science behind bloodstains and their role in crime scene investigations.

www.phlebotomyusa.com

 

[Megnut]

Prosecution claimed in opening that the expert in blood splatter evidence is more important than au-pair Juliana's testimony.
Clunky and ill-prepared says Peter @ LYK.

How Blood Spatter Analysis Solves Crimes - Phlebotomy USA

Explore what blood pattern analysis is and how it helps solve crimes. Understand the science behind bloodstains and their role in crime scene investigations.

www.phlebotomyusa.com

Everything about this trial feels clunky and ill-prepared.

JMO

 

[alexwood]

Very curious if Brendan will take the stand, what do folks think?

I don't think he'll testify.

 

[chatnoir#1]

I can’t figure out the significance of Christine’s father testifying about her blood disorder. And why couldn’t he mention what her medical condition was?

 

[Megnut]

Defense is trying to get a whole bunch of junk admitted. Hearsay, incomplete, irrelevant.

I gather their defense is going to be that the au pair had every reason to lie. True. But that doesn't make him innocent or even raise doubt. The victims didn't kill themselves -- or even meet of their own volition.

I know it's naive of me, but I really wish trials were reserved for individuals who are wrongly charged and not for guilty people who want to sidestep justice. I know, I know -- there's the Constitutional right to a trial before a jury of one's peers.

The ego here, that he thought they could get away with this, it eclipses reason.

JMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

Everything about this trial feels clunky and ill-prepared.

JMO

If the jury doesn't believe the prosecution's star witness au-pair Juliana then BB could walk.

I'm not up on much of this case and wish I knew how much evidence the prosecution had without whatever au-pair gave them about their relationship leading up to the murders so did they really need to give au-pair a sweetheart deal?

The odds of two lovers who want the wife gone for good then miraculously some guy appears at your house to carry out a fetish and you don't know it was planned by the wife then get to kill the guy along with your wife is a zillion to one and something that a jury would have a real hard time swallowing.

imo

 

[Megnut]

I can’t figure out the significance of Christine’s father testifying about her blood disorder. And why couldn’t he mention what her medical condition was?

Blind guess -- did BB take advantage of that knowledge when choosing the method of death?

Not sure how or whether it would impact/advance death.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

If the jury doesn't believe the prosecution's star witness au-pair Juliana then BB could walk.

I'm not up on much of this case and wish I knew how much evidence the prosecution had without whatever au-pair gave them about BB & Juliana's relationship leading up to the murders so did they really need to give au-pair a sweetheart deal?

The odds of two lovers who want the wife gone for good then miraculously some guy appears at your house to carry out a fetish and you don't know it was planned by the wife then get to kill the guy along with your wife is a zillion to one and something that a jury would have a real hard time swallowing.

imo

I haven't seen the charges -- is it straight up Murder 1 or is there also a Conspiracy to Murder charge? The latter seems like a slam dunk. Even if he wasn't physically there (if you believed that), even if he didn't physically murder either of them, if there's evidence of collaboration in the planning, he'd still be equally guilty.

That he carried on publicly with the au pair pretty much tells the story.

JMO

 

[alexwood]

I can’t figure out the significance of Christine’s father testifying about her blood disorder. And why couldn’t he mention what her medical condition was?

Defense kept objecting to what he called medical testimony by Christine's father. I do think he was permitted to say that she had a "blood disorder", but that was the extent of it, and nothing further. He said that she had to refrain from activities that would cause injury, and had to wear protective equipment when she did. I thought he would have testified about Christine's relationship with Brendan Banfield that he had observed over time.

 

[Megnut]

As BB listens to the audio from the officer's bodycam, what do you suppose is going through BB's head? I'd like to think he's sorry, wishes he could go back in time and not do it, but I suspect instead he is mad they got caught.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Defense kept objecting to what he called medical testimony by Christine's father. I do think he was permitted to say that she had a "blood disorder", but that was the extent of it, and nothing further. He said that she had to refrain from activities that would cause injury, and had to wear protective equipment when she did. I thought he would have testified about Christine's relationship with Brendan Banfield that he had observed over time.

Maybe to show that she wouldn't engage in rough anything? That she was careful, had to manage her health, protect herself from injury?

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Maybe to show that she wouldn't engage in rough anything? That she was careful, had to manage her health, protect herself from injury?

And not engage in fetish knife play with a complete stranger she had never met!!!

 

[Megnut]

The Defense is still trying to admit evidence, yes? Outside the presence of the jury?

They aren't showing the bodycam, only playing the audio. I think as a proffer for the judge.

Or did the jury come in and I missed it?

JMO

 

[Megnut]

And not engage in fetish knife play with a complete stranger she had never met!!!

If we can put this together, then so can the jury.

JMO

 

[Weki]

I can tell from this defendant's body language that he won't take the stand. He doesn't look confident. I think he would crumble on the stand and he knows it. JMO

 

[Megnut]

Question: BB gets to wear street clothes, no visible shackles. But his wrist band is visible. Makes him look like a medical patient IMO.

I wonder what the jurors think.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

He's sure not broken up -- on the bodycam audio or in the courtroom. 100% meh.

Oh, wait. Now he's crying, in the audio. Not terribly convincing however.

His posture at the defense table-- he's shrinking into himself. Like his suitcoat is still on the hanger and he's just hanging in it.

JMO