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

[ttjo]

Random musings:
I'm still scratching my head over how this plain, balding schlub had multiple affairs and that women were actually attracted to him .

I'm worried that if he's found guilty, he'll file an appeal based on ineffective counsel, win the appeal, and get a new trial. Since JM will be a free woman in Brazil, the CW no longer has any leverage to make her testify against him and that could put a damper on the CW's case. According to Peter Tragos, the CW has no case w/o JM. I'm not sure I agree.

Well I agree with your first point that’s for sure.

 

[Izzylizzy]

BB testified that Lily the dog was in the basement with her food bowl and blocked in with a gate so she couldn't get upstairs.
Did he say that CB did that, allude to it or neither?


Did Sands accuse BB of putting Lily in the basement so JR could safely enter the house?
Could you hear Lily barking in the upstairs bedrooms when she was in the basement?

 

[ttjo]

BB testified that Lily the dog was in the basement with her food bowl and blocked in with a gate so she couldn't get upstairs.
Did he say that CB did that, allude to it or neither?


Did Sands accuse BB of putting Lily in the basement so JR could safely enter the house?
Could you hear Lily barking in the upstairs bedrooms when she was in the basement?

And he testified that her dog dish was usually kept in the dining room, so WTH was it doing in the basement? And when did that happen if police arrived and he was holding CB’s neck. Oh the nanny must have taken the time to do that with the chaos going on, before she shot JR what a gong show.
Like seriously this guy is his own worst enemy.

 

[mickey2942]

And wouldnt it be hard to put on a rebut witness for something like that. I would think it’s private and possibly the witness is just not aware of it.
I mean I sure dont believe it, but its something that could be hidden .

Agreed. Who can testify to something like that? "She never said anything about S&M to me.".

We only show parts of ourselves to different people. Very few people show all of themselves to anyone.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Random musings:
I'm still scratching my head over how this plain, balding schlub had multiple affairs and that women were actually attracted to him .

I'm worried that if he's found guilty, he'll file an appeal based on ineffective counsel, win the appeal, and get a new trial. Since JM will be a free woman in Brazil, the CW no longer has any leverage to make her testify against him and that could put a damper on the CW's case. According to Peter Tragos, the CW has no case w/o JM. I'm not sure I agree.

JM's sentencing is on Feb 13 next week.
Chief Judge Penney Azcarate can sentence her up to 10 yrs.so it's not a slam dunk she'll be back in Brazil soon.

The CW agreed in the plea deal to recommend time served if JM testified etc which she did.

 

[Izzylizzy]

And he testified that her dog dish was usually kept in the dining room, so WTH was it doing in the basement? And when did that happen if police arrived and he was holding CB’s neck. Oh the nanny must have taken the time to do that with the chaos going on, before she shot JR. what a gong show.
Like seriously this guy is his own worst enemy.

When BB entered the house, followed by JM & VB Lily the dog was already in the basement with food bowl and blocked from going upstairs.
So BB and/or JM did that with Lily before leaving that morning so JR could get in the house and upstairs w/o Lily barking, maybe getting attacked and getting CB's attention.
imo

 

[ttjo]

When BB entered the house, followed by JM & VB Lily the dog was already in the basement with food bowl and blocked from going upstairs.
So BB and/or JM did that with Lily before leaving that morning so JR could get in the house and upstairs w/o Lily barking, maybe getting attacked and getting CB's attention.
imo

Oh 100% I agree.
I have to listen again to hear how he explained that one.

 

[Born2BWild]

If you google Eric Clingan, another Deputy Commonwealth’s attorney, you’ll get your answer. He was originally supposed to be handling this trial.

I do remember the situation with the prosecutor who was going to be representing the CW. So the attorney of record filled in on the fly and had a monumental amount of prep to do in a very short time.

There was also the big controversy within the CW regarding the digital forensics and there was a lot of cleaning up to do and personnel shifts.

I’m thinking the CW did a pretty decent job considering the variables. They couldn’t go forward with a DA who was drinking on the job and others who were banishing reports/experts who contradicted their case theory.

But I totally agree with everyone here who feel CB wasn’t portrayed as the loving mother and exceptional nurse and person she was.

I remember right after the murders, her FB/social media was available and she was so committed to being healthy and fighting her way back to the fitness she knew before pregnancy. She had a wonderful relationship with the first au pair (pre JM) and they remained friends. The former au pair had many FB tributes to CB.

All so painfully sad.

MOO

 

[Serononin]

Jury questions take a lot of time. In our case we had 2. One the deputy was able to answer (it was about getting copies of the jury instructions for everyone) and the other was about the definition of something, I forget what it the terms was now, but I remember saying at the time that there probably is no definition and that's why it wasn't included. And a note came back from the judge that just said there was no definition it was up to us to decide. At least we didn't have to file into the courtroom to get that non answer ;/

At least you didn't get "a reasonable doubt is a doubt which is reasonable" lol (famous line from a UK trial - I forget which - where the judge was so alarmed by some of the jury questions that he ended up dismissing them for essentially being incompetent)

 

[Izzylizzy]

I think its weird the supervisor had to come forward and say the work meeting alibi was junk. Didn't the police investigate his claim ??

IIRC: When asked by the defense Smith said that he was never interviewed by LE.
Carroll listed all the IRS employees who were interviewed.
Did Carroll think that by Smith not being interviewed by LE it would somehow discredit his testimony that there was no interview scheduled for that morning with BB?

I don't remember if the CW addressed this non-meeting with BB on cross?
imo

 

[ttjo]

IIRC: When asked by the defense Smith said that he was never interviewed by LE.
Carroll listed all the IRS employees who were interviewed.
Did Carroll think that by Smith not being interviewed by LE it would somehow discredit his testimony that there was no interview scheduled for that morning with BB?

I don't remember if the CW addressed this non-meeting with BB on cross?
imo

I think he did, because isnt that why the prosecution added the surprise rebuttal witness?

 

[Izzylizzy]

At least you didn't get "a reasonable doubt is a doubt which is reasonable" lol (famous line from a UK trial - I forget which - where the judge was so alarmed by some of the jury questions that he ended up dismissing them for essentially being incompetent)

Wow!

4. Can you define what is reasonable doubt?

'Mr Justice Sweeney said: "A reasonable doubt is a doubt which is reasonable. These are ordinary English words that the law doesn't allow me to help you with beyond the written directions that I have already given."

Ten questions posed by Vicky Pryce jury

The jury trying ex-minister Chris Huhne's former wife Vicky Pryce has failed to reach a verdict on a charge relating to speeding points she took for him 10 years ago. Here are the questions they asked the judge and his answers.

www.bbc.com

 

[ryan8901]

I do remember the situation with the prosecutor who was going to be representing the CW. So the attorney of record filled in on the fly and had a monumental amount of prep to do in a very short time.

There was also the big controversy within the CW regarding the digital forensics and there was a lot of cleaning up to do and personnel shifts.

I’m thinking the CW did a pretty decent job considering the variables. They couldn’t go forward with a DA who was drinking on the job and others who were banishing reports/experts who contradicted their case theory.

But I totally agree with everyone here who feel CB wasn’t portrayed as the loving mother and exceptional nurse and person she was.

I remember right after the murders, her FB/social media was available and she was so committed to being healthy and fighting her way back to the fitness she knew before pregnancy. She had a wonderful relationship with the first au pair (pre JM) and they remained friends. The former au pair had many FB tributes to CB.

All so painfully sad.

MOO

It’s somewhat shocking that the first au pair wasn’t called to the stand. At a minimum she was extremely close to CB and could’ve spoken to her character. But I imagine she would’ve had other relevant information about the dynamic inside the house etc.

 

[Angelo]

When BB entered the house, followed by JM & VB Lily the dog was already in the basement with food bowl and blocked from going upstairs.
So BB and/or JM did that with Lily before leaving that morning so JR could get in the house and upstairs w/o Lily barking, maybe getting attacked and getting CB's attention.
imo

Yes! BB and JM posing as Christine told Joseph the dog would be in the basement.

 

[ryan8901]

Yes! BB and JM posing as Christine told Joseph the dog would be in the basement.


View attachment 640801

Both BB and JM testified that there were sexual noises of some kind coming from the bedroom so if you believe them JR had already started doing something with CB

 

[Inthedetails]

Yes! BB and JM posing as Christine told Joseph the dog would be in the basement.


View attachment 640801

The snacks comment is ridiculous. Liars and catfishers give too many details that are unnecessary.

jmopinion

 

[Izzylizzy]

I think he did, because isnt that why the prosecution added the surprise rebuttal witness?

Prosecutor Jenna Sands told the judge that after yesterday's testimony by BB they were contacted by Smith and asked her for permission for Smith to testify which she granted.

In all the other interviews LE did with BB's superiors/co-workers did no one else say that there wasn't a scheduled meeting that morning for BB and his possible advancement within the IRS?
I gather had someone said that they would have been on the CW's witness list?

Had any of them told LE there was a meeting scheduled would they not have been on the defense's witness list?

Is it possible that LE never asked any of them if a meeting with BB was scheduled?
Did the CW also interview BB's superiors at the IRS?

It's surprising and concerning that the meeting wasn't sorted out before the trial began.
imo

 

[Angelo]

I guess I still don't understand why JR had to be killed. Couldn't he have done all the same fake catfishing online pretense back and forth, and when they finally found someone to agree to come over and do whatever they talked about, couldn't BB have burst in as a cop and cuffed the guy, then maybe led him down to the basement while BB "took care" of Christine, then blame it all on JR?

Surely he wasn't worried that anyone would believe JRs word over his?

BB and JM could not leave Joseph alive for many reasons.

One being, when JM spoke with Joseph on the phone before February 24th, JM testified that Joseph was surprised that "Christine/Annastasia had an accent.

 

[Serononin]

Wow!

4. Can you define what is reasonable doubt?

'Mr Justice Sweeney said: "A reasonable doubt is a doubt which is reasonable. These are ordinary English words that the law doesn't allow me to help you with beyond the written directions that I have already given."

Ten questions posed by Vicky Pryce jury

The jury trying ex-minister Chris Huhne's former wife Vicky Pryce has failed to reach a verdict on a charge relating to speeding points she took for him 10 years ago. Here are the questions they asked the judge and his answers.

www.bbc.com

The question after that absolutely floored me: "Can a juror come to a verdict based on a reason that was not presented in court and has no facts or evidence to support it either from the prosecution or defence?"

 

[Izzylizzy]

Both BB and JM testified that there were sexual noises of some kind coming from the bedroom so if you believe them JR had already started doing something with CB

We will never know what daughter VB told authorities.
CB could very well have been screaming when the 3 entered the basement.

'Child's interview can't be used in Virginia fetish sex murder trial'​

'Brendan Banfield's defense attorney argued Banfield did not consent for his young daughter to be interviewed at police headquarters.'​

Child's interview can't be used in Virginia fetish sex murder trial

Brendan Banfield’s defense attorney argued the interview with his young daughter would be admissible only if the child was being directly victimized by her parent.

www.nbcwashington.com