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

[LifeIsAMystery]

Was BB held in custody while awaiting his trial, or was he out on bond pretrial? If in custody, how long was it between his arrest and start of trial? For some reason, to me, it seemed like it was pretty quick, at least relatively.

I know JM was (and is) in jail since her arrest.

He was arrested on 9/16/24 and has been in custody since.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/commonwealthattorney/sites/commonwealthattorney/files/Assets/press%20releases%20master/12.16.24%20Banfield%20Indictment.pdf

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Did they hit upon the made-up IRS meeting BB said was for his possible advancement ?
The non-existent meeting that was confirmed by witness T. Patrick Smith .

I am grateful Smith came forward to testify BB was lying. Jmooo.

 

[Kysoze]

Highlights from today:

BB: “I dropped to the ground and had to be taken to the hospital. I was scared for Christine.”
Defense: “Ok, let’s talk about windows”

CW: “Your wife had these 7 stab wounds in her neck but yet she’s able to chat with you?
BB: “Yes, her voice was a really horse though”

Defense: “Judge, may I ask one more question?
Judge: “No you’re done”

BB’s eye roll at his attorney at 6:15:53 when he reading thru the motion he’s about to present - did anyone else see that?

Why is Lisky still there hanging out there?

I agree that the CW’s cross was somewhat disappointing. Started out strong. I think they got their point across though.

 

[TristanP]

I sure hope so. I’m not real impressed with the prosecutor. This could have been much more compelling and dramatic.

Like when BB said that he moved Joe with his toe. Let’s see the toes to show that it is impossible to move a large man with “a” toe.

Well, he's tall ya know, so tall he can see into the bedroom just a few stairs up, so tall his bed is higher than most people's beds, so tall he attracted a 21 yr old...so his toes are probably extra long, and super powerful.

 

[TristanP]

Another weird thing (of many)…..for someone who seemed concerned about money with his free food on his McDonalds app and the free gun range vs the one he had to pay for …..and he was on a sugar daddy site??

"Baby, I'm able to buy you this knock-off designer purse because I saved money with my McDonald's app..."

 

[Luna20]

Highlights from today:

BB: “I dropped to the ground and had to be taken to the hospital. I was scared for Christine.”
Defense: “Ok, let’s talk about windows”

CW: “Your wife had these 7 stab wounds in her neck but yet she’s able to chat with you?
BB: “Yes, her voice was a really horse though”

Defense: “Judge, may I ask one more question?
Judge: “No you’re done”

BB’s eye roll at his attorney at 6:15:53 when he reading thru the motion he’s about to present - did anyone else see that?

Why is Lisky still there hanging out there?

I agree that the CW’s cross was somewhat disappointing. Started out strong. I think they got their point across though.

Seven stab wounds and she tells him to put pressure on her neck, as if.

I forgot about the judge telling him No to one more question! That was great and so unexpected. It definitely caught defense off guard.

Judge Penny is the only shining star in this trial. She is tiny in stature but she means business! If you are ever bored look at some of the clips from the Depp trial. She was seeing things that she had never seen before but she had full control of the freaks in that courtroom.

 

[Luna20]

Well, he's tall ya know, so tall he can see into the bedroom just a few stairs up, so tall his bed is higher than most people's beds, so tall he attracted a 21 yr old...so his toes are probably extra long, and super powerful.

He has bionic toes because “he was moving the knife away from Joe with his toe”

 

[tricia]

Justice is a Process is a great YouTube channel. They play clips from different livestreamed trials. They are now an approved YouTube channel, provided they only play clips from trials being livestreamed.
The title of this clip is troubling. What is going on?
Banfield Trial: Aggravated Murder Charges Dropped as Judge Questions Remaining

 

[mrjitty]

To be honest, cross was not as thorough as I would have liked.

I how they make up for it with a closing argument that nails it.

JMO

One suspects after the defence's ponderous presentation and the defendant's laughable direct the CW judged that it was best to be fast and incisive, and not make the jury suffer

 

[Trime]

Likely a moot point (and MOO), but the important meeting for his job and potential promotion seemed strange. Federal employment is quite structured. I don't think a supervisor can notice an exemplary performance and say "I am going to promote that person". I would think that you would need enough time in grade at your present level, and then either career ladder step up or an open higher grade position that you can apply for. He may have had the potential for earning an award or incentive, or resume material, but beyond that it seemed like he was just blowing hot air.

 

[Megnut]

I hope the CW personalizes CB and JR today. They have been maligned throughout this trial but were real people and I want the jury to feel that.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

Likely a moot point (and MOO), but the important meeting for his job and potential promotion seemed strange. Federal employment is quite structured. I don't think a supervisor can notice an exemplary performance and say "I am going to promote that person". I would think that you would need enough time in grade at your present level, and then either career ladder step up or an open higher grade position that you can apply for. He may have had the potential for earning an award or incentive, or resume material, but beyond that it seemed like he was just blowing hot air.

His EGO must have blocked him from thinking anyone would ever check up on that.

It's WILD that apparently no one did. Until SSA T.Patrick heard what BB claimed.

Stunning testimony.

Killing time at McDonald's with his super-sized cookie looks more like Killing Time, no reason to be there but to wait for go-time.

JMO

 

[Tortoise]

Justice is a Process is a great YouTube channel. They play clips from different livestreamed trials. They are now an approved YouTube channel, provided they only play clips from trials being livestreamed.
The title of this clip is troubling. What is going on?
Banfield Trial: Aggravated Murder Charges Dropped as Judge Questions Remaining

The Commonwealth originally indicted Banfield with four counts of aggravated murder, because Virginia law permits them to charge aggravated for two murders within the same transaction as well as two murders within a three year period.

§ 18.2-31​

A. The following offenses shall constitute aggravated murder, punishable as a Class 1 felony:

[...]

7. The willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of more than one person as a part of the same act or transaction;

8. The willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing of more than one person within a three-year period;

Title 18.2. Crimes and Offenses Generally

law.lis.virginia.gov

The Commonwealth was waiting to see how Banfield testified before deciding which one of those two they would proceed with, because while they can have both in the guilt phase of the trial, the judge can only sentence on one of those counts. They thought it could be confusing for the jury to have both.

Yesterday the Commonwealth asked the judge to dismiss the two counts (one for each victim) of within the same transaction, and just leave the two counts (one for each victim) of within a three-year period. The judge then pointed out that they probably shouldn't have two counts (one for each victim) for the three-year clause, because aggravated murder requires anyway that two people were murdered.

The Commonwealth is considering overnight how to proceed on this, looking at case law. They are not dropping aggravated murder, but they will confirm if they still wish to withdraw the same transaction charge, and also provide clarity in the jury instructions for if the jury decides that he murdered one but not the other, in which case under their waterfall instruction it falls to first degree, not aggravated, for just one victim.

That's my understanding.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Likely a moot point (and MOO), but the important meeting for his job and potential promotion seemed strange. Federal employment is quite structured. I don't think a supervisor can notice an exemplary performance and say "I am going to promote that person". I would think that you would need enough time in grade at your present level, and then either career ladder step up or an open higher grade position that you can apply for. He may have had the potential for earning an award or incentive, or resume material, but beyond that it seemed like he was just blowing hot air.

Plus his supervisor came forward and testified no meeting had been scheduled for that day. Completely shown to be lying about that and all that detail. His supervisors were out of the country and in Baltimore that day, not even in VA.

 

[Inthedetails]

Plus his supervisor came forward and testified no meeting had been scheduled for that day. Completely shown to be lying about that and all that detail. His supervisors were out of the country and in Baltimore that day, not even in VA.

Saved that witness for last, smartly. It wasn't a bombshell in terms of excitement - an IRS agent testifying about dress code and meeting schedules - but ripped BB's script to shreds.


jmopinion

 

[Serononin]

Just a quick side note - Defendant says he doesn't make breakfast for himself in the morning before work. Hmm. I don't understand people like this. So you eat out for breakfast and lunch 5 days a week? And then you make dinner after work? It's much harder to come home from work and prepare a meal than it is to make breakfast IMO.

Seriously, just stick some overnight oats in the fridge if you hate morning food prep that much

 

[Inthedetails]

Seriously, just stick some overnight oats in the fridge if you hate morning food prep that much

Last night's leftovers. Can't get easier.

Maybe he's too tall.

jmo

 

[Serononin]

I thought that he was worse than Alex Murdaugh. He kept moving his eyes to the left. Complete tell. And everything sounded rehearsed to me. He will be destroyed on cross.

He shouldn't have testified.

Every trial I've followed where the defendant has testified, it's gone terribly for them.

 

[Inthedetails]

Saved that witness for last, smartly. It wasn't a bombshell in terms of excitement - an IRS agent testifying about dress code and meeting schedules - but ripped BB's script to shreds.


jmopinion

I also think the witness, even as controlled and professional as he was, had a look of disdain about BB's actions. BB falls short of anything his collegues could imagine. It wasn't exciting, but it showed. imo

 

[Izzylizzy]

Highlights from today:

BB: “I dropped to the ground and had to be taken to the hospital. I was scared for Christine.”
Defense: “Ok, let’s talk about windows”

CW: “Your wife had these 7 stab wounds in her neck but yet she’s able to chat with you?
BB: “Yes, her voice was a really horse though”

Defense: “Judge, may I ask one more question?
Judge: “No you’re done”

BB’s eye roll at his attorney at 6:15:53 when he reading thru the motion he’s about to present - did anyone else see that?

Why is Lisky still there hanging out there?

I agree that the CW’s cross was somewhat disappointing. Started out strong. I think they got their point across though.

BBM:

According to Peter@ LYK the CW could have called a witness (es) to debunk what BB claimed about CM engaging in S&M.
Without concrete evidence from either side though it would remain a "he said-she said".
I think leaving BB's claims unchallenged makes it appear as a done deal and that is too dicey for the CW to leave with the jurors.
imo