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

[Weki]

He said that she said that to him as she was dying?

Disgusting.

And he still didn't cry when he told that lie on the stand?

OMG I didn’t even think of that - no tears whatsoever as he describes this gruesome scene. He didn’t even get choked up! Wow

 

[Weki]

Yes another thing, yuck!!! That is basic common sense. And she wasn’t dressed appropriately on more than a couple of days. Her hair looked dirty. Seriously, it’s not a good representation.

ObJECtion LEADing

Way too many head scratchers

I had a visceral dislike of the prosecutor. She reminded me of a couple catty and phony women in my office. I’m sure we all have experienced the type.

 

[Izzylizzy]

OMG I didn’t even think of that - no tears whatsoever as he describes this gruesome scene. He didn’t even get choked up! Wow

Yet he couldn't hide his little smiles when telling/reliving parts of his sexual/personal history with the au-pair.
imo

 

[jeff2034]

One interesting thing that I have noticed is that it appears in one of the evidence photos that a "spreader bar" was located on JR's lap and under his left hand. This spreader bar is something that JR created and brought with him to the house as per his telegram message and the contents of his backpack (see photo). The photo of his left hand and the end of the spreader bar was mainly used in the trial to provide evidence of the transfer bloodstain patterns on JR's hand. No one seemed to notice or care about the location of the spreader bar in this photo as it was never mentioned during the trial that I know of. Is it possible that CW was so focused on the blood stain analysis that they missed the presence of the spreader bar? I'm not sure what a "spreader bar" does or how it's used but it appears to be an approximately 2 foot long metal bar approximately 2 inches in diameter. Based on the position of this bar in the photo it is likely that this bar was being manipulated and used by JR at the time he was shot. Based on the size of the bar, I would surmise that it takes two hands to manipulate this bar. Assuming JR was holding this bar, this seems to refute BB's testimony that JR was holding a knife to CB's neck at the time he was shot. I guess the defense could say that JR dropped the bar and picked up the knife when BB entered the room but this seems like an unlikely scenario. It's also possible this bar was placed there in a manipulation of the scene but I'm not sure why BB or the medics would do that.

 

[Weki]

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

Hahahahaha thanks for this. I had no idea!

It still doesn’t explain why the prosecutor on this case is dressing so unprofessionally and chewing gum. Or maybe it does? This office clearly has issues with professionalism. Where are they getting these prosecutors from? Yeeesh.

Edited to add: Also, why can’t he drink in his home before going to work like normal alcoholics? The businesses in the mall plaza said he’s been coming there to drink by the garbage area for a month! lol. Wtf.

Edited to add: Here’s another one of their prosecutors (same office) being drunk and disorderly refusing to leave a bar. Oh this office has issues!

 

[Izzylizzy]

1 hr ago.

 

[Weki]

She wanted a green card, otherwise he had to pay for it on a sugar baby site! Sad, like his comb over. Jmoo.

He’s a great negative advertisement for these sugar baby sites. I bet it’s a lot of comb overs on those sites. Not some high rollers.

 

[petunia5743]

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.

I personally feel in that scenario that many others would come forward to prove Brendan’s was false. We already had one witness come forward, his supervisor, after hearing him testify to false claims. Two others asked detectives in the courtroom if it was too late to testify, and were told to be quiet because at that point, it was too late and they didn’t want to influence the jury/mistrial. There are so many other people out there who have details Who could now come forward. IMO

 

[Izzylizzy]

I don't see how the defense can get around the jury the fact that BB & JM were carrying on a sexual relationship before the murder of CB.
In all cases when a spouse/partner is murdered/killed detectives always want to know if either person was carrying on an affair.
That is up there with life insurance policies on the deceased.
Was there a policy on CB to sweeten her death for BB?
imo

 

[jeff2034]

Now that the trial is over, a few observations:
Neither the prosecution nor the defense were particularly effective in the case. It seems like mistakes were made on both sides.

As others have said on this thread, I don’t feel like the jurors ever got to “know” CB. I didn’t watch the entire trial but I don’t remember anyone who knew CB testifying (other than the father who mainly testified about her blood disorder). In other cases similar to this, I have seen witnesses who were best friends or coworkers of the victim testify. For example the best friend of CB could have testified regarding the state of the marriage and whether CB was interested in the type of fantasy that BB claims she was. Assuming the best friend would say that she never discussed this, the defense could certainly argue that this is not something she would discuss even with her best friend but at least this would provide the jury with some background regarding CB. Other questions for the best friend might be something like: “was she a loving and responsible mother, a trustworthy and reliable friend etc" Something to provide some evidence of the character of CB. Regarding a coworker, it may have been interesting to know whether CB was acting differently in the weeks before the event. Also was she a reliable and trustworthy nurse?

In other similar cases, I have seen pictures of the victims prominently displayed in the courtroom especially during the prosecutions closing arguments. Perhaps they were in this trial and the camera did not show them but I did not see them. Also comments by the prosecution such as “CB was a loving mother and a valuable ICU nurse” and that “JR was a loving son who loved animals etc..” were missing in this trial at least during the closing arguments. I believe in cases like this where there is so much evidence, jurors can forget that we are talking about two human beings being murdered and it is the prosecution’s job to humanize the victims and make sure the jurors don’t forget that two lives were brutally taken. Not sure the prosecution effectively did this.

 

[Izzylizzy]

He’s a great negative advertisement for these sugar baby sites. I bet it’s a lot of comb overs on those sites. Not some high rollers.

The prosecutor said the name of one woman BB had an affair with so why wasn't she called to testify?
The CW said she was married at the time, BB said she wasn't so why did the CW just let it go and do another one of her "okays" and move on?

Did the CW know who any of the other women were?
What did BB tell these women about his marriage?
Was it different then what he told the jury which was he loved his wife, wasn't going to divorce her for an affair, they both knew of each others affairs, etc.
Zero from the CW on character witnesses for CB and zilch from the women he cheated with.
imo

 

[Inthedetails]

The prosecutor said the name of one woman BB had an affair with so why wasn't she called to testify?
The CW said she was married at the time, BB said she wasn't so why did the CW just let it go and do another one of her "okays" and move on?

Did the CW know who any of the other women were?
What did BB tell these women about his marriage?
Was it different then what he told the jury which was he loved his wife, wasn't going to divorce her for an affair, they both knew of each others affairs, etc.
Zero from the CW on character witnesses for CB and zilch from the women he cheated with.
imo

What could BB's former lovers add to the case? Testifying would likely be humiliating and disruptive to their personal and professional lives. I am okay not hearing about the sex lives - knowing about JM affair, plot to kill, and the murders is enough for conviction, imo.

jmo

 

[jeff2034]

While I think BB is guilty and the vast majority of the evidence shows that IMO, there is one thing that bothers me: according to JMs testimony, after BB shot JR, and before CB told JM to call 911, CB said to BB “what did you do”? This seems like a strange question from CB, if we assume CB genuinely felt she was being attacked by a man with a knife. Why would CB ask this question of her husband who has just shot the man who was attacking her with a knife? The more appropriate statement at that time would have been something like “thank God you came back, you saved my life” Perhaps JM did not hear CB correctly, or perhaps this was a leftover phrase that BB and JM had planned for JM to say that JM simply forgot to delete from the narrative? Of course the prosecution did not have any follow up questions regarding this statement (which makes sense because it goes against their case) but astoundingly I don’t remember the defense during cross ever bringing this up either. Perhaps they did and I just missed it (I couldn’t watch the entire cross of JM because it was so painfully slow).

 

[jeff2034]

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.

I'm not sure of the plea deal that JM has, but I would hope that there is a stipulation that JM needs to testify if the case is turned over on appeal and that if she does not, the plea deal is voided.

 

[Izzylizzy]

We don't know and hopefully will find out after the verdict which defendant the jury found more credible if at all.
Carroll accused LE of planting words in JM's mouth.

This makes total sense and fits with the plan to murder CB.
imo



"Several fetish site users showed interest in the rape fantasy, but Banfield would stop chatting with anyone who insisted on meeting up beforehand or at a location other than his home, Magalhães said.

How deranged IRS agent allegedly plotted wife’s murder — with twisted rape fantasy and plan to run off with au pair

The naughty nanny testified about the whole sordid affair as Banfield’s murder trial kicked off last week.

nypost.com

 

[Izzylizzy]

Peter @ LYK said his connection who was in the courtroom said the jury is made up of 5 men and 7 women and the average age is about 40.

 

[ryan8901]

While I think BB is guilty and the vast majority of the evidence shows that IMO, there is one thing that bothers me: according to JMs testimony, after BB shot JR, and before CB told JM to call 911, CB said to BB “what did you do”? This seems like a strange question from CB, if we assume CB genuinely felt she was being attacked by a man with a knife. Why would CB ask this question of her husband who has just shot the man who was attacking her with a knife? The more appropriate statement at that time would have been something like “thank God you came back, you saved my life” Perhaps JM did not hear CB correctly, or perhaps this was a leftover phrase that BB and JM had planned for JM to say that JM simply forgot to delete from the narrative? Of course the prosecution did not have any follow up questions regarding this statement (which makes sense because it goes against their case) but astoundingly I don’t remember the defense during cross ever bringing this up either. Perhaps they did and I just missed it (I couldn’t watch the entire cross of JM because it was so painfully slow).

My theory is BB comes into the room with his gun drawn and JR responds the way a normal person would by letting go of CB and backing away perhaps with his hands up. BB then shoots him even though he’s surrendering which is what leads CB to say “what did you do?!” because he just shot someone in the head that wasn’t a threat anymore. The prosecutors could have better painted that picture for the jury for sure.

 

[Izzylizzy]

What does defense attorney Carroll not understand about defendants (JM) who at first hold out from turning on another defendant/person until the situation gets too real with the criminal charges against them and the time they face?
He makes it sound like JM is somehow unique and what she testified to can't be trusted.
imo

 

[jeff2034]

My theory is BB comes into the room with his gun drawn and JR responds the way a normal person would by letting go of CB and backing away perhaps with his hands up. BB then shoots him even though he’s surrendering which is what leads CB to say “what did you do?!” because he just shot someone in the head that wasn’t a threat anymore. The prosecutors could have better painted that picture for the jury for sure.

Maybe - but if I see a man in my house attacking my wife and my wife has just told me he has a knife, I'm not sure I would have enough restraint to not shoot even if he has let her go and is backing away. For CB to be upset with BB that he did not have such restraint seems strange. I'm sure it happened very fast.

 

[Angelo]

The whole plan is diabolical, and I believe the state proved their case. Common sense.

• The affair between Brendan and Juliana which shows they were not just employer and employee on February 24, 2023, when the murders occurred and they were both present. Partners in crime.

• The time of the planned rendezvous (7:15am - 7:30am) between Joseph and "Annastsia" is only convenient for Brendan and Juliana's murder plan. They both had to be in the vicinity, not far away so it had to be shorty after they left the house.

• The window company was originally contacted in Jan. 2022 and were asked to give a quote for Double-Paned windows. After the quote was given, the company did not hear from Brendan again until July 2022 when Brendan contacted them to say he wanted Triple-Paned windows. This backs up Juliana's testimony.

• Brendan took Julianna to a firing range multiple times, the first was in Oct. 2022. This shows preparation for the murders.

• Christine's phone was found downstairs in the kitchen drawer. It was turned off. Christine's phone was used to unlock the front door for Joseph. It doesn't make sense that Christine would leave her phone downstairs and out of reach. Brendan did it in preparation for the murders.

• Juliana testifying that Joseph looked shocked when he saw Brendan in the bedroom and that Christine yelled to Brendan that "he has a knife" is very believable. Christine had no clue what was going on and Joseph thought he was there for consensual sex play.
• Juliana testifying that Christine told her to call 911, which Juliana did, is a believable explanation for the first 911 hang-up call right after Joseph was shot. It explains the background voices and moaning on the call as well.

• Juliana said she blocked her ears when Brendan was stabbing Christine because she didn't want to hear the "conversation" between Christine and Brendan has the ring of truth. I imagine the "conversation" was Christine pleading for her life and asking why. One minute Christine thought Brendan was saving her from Joseph, and the next Brendan is turning on her as well.

• It came out in testimony that Christine's parents were visiting later in the day on February 24, 2023. Not believable that Christine would schedule a rendezvous with Joseph on the day her parents would be visiting.

• Both Juliana and Brendan called Joseph Ryan "Joe" while testifying. This shows familiarity with Joseph, which I believe they both had from all the messaging and the telephone call.

• Brendan lying about an important work meeting on February 24, 2023.

• Brendan's testimony helped the CW and sealed his guilt. Self-serving and unbelievable.