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

[Inthedetails]

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.

He says he was afraid to shoot because he might hit Christine. Well, then, TACKLE!

It's completely unbelieveable that the guy didn't go into charging monster attack mode immediately.

jmopinion

 

[Izzylizzy]

Peter @ LYK expects a guilty verdict by the end of Monday.
The latest Tuesday then he's onto a hung jury.
@ 54:50

 

[Izzylizzy]

He says he was afraid to shoot because he might hit Christine. Well, then, TACKLE!

It's completely unbelieveable that the guy didn't go into charging monster attack mode immediately.

jmopinion

BBM:
Yep and he's a man to boot.
I believe most women would have also charged JR while screaming to whoever was in the house to call 911.
Do we even know the truth of what BB & JM saw when they entered the bedroom?
They had a lot of time to stage the crime scene and get a story together.
imo

 

[jeff2034]

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.

All very good points and I agree with you. Also, I assume JM testified about their plan and opening and accessing the suspect accounts without first knowing that the digital evidence corroborated her story (i.e. that either BB or JM always had the opportunity to access CB's devices when they were being used to access the suspect accounts.) To me this makes JM's story more believable since she likely had no way of knowing that beforehand.

 

[Izzylizzy]

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.

Wow!
# 2, 9 & 10.

 

[Kysoze]

It was mentioned multiple times during the trial by the prosecution that BB told other affair partners of his wish or plan to get rid of his wife but he didn’t get a willing accomplice until JM. Why didn’t the prosecution call any of them to testify to this?

 

[Inthedetails]

It was mentioned multiple times during the trial by the prosecution that BB told other affair partners of his wish or plan to get rid of his wife but he didn’t get a willing accomplice until JM. Why didn’t the prosecution call any of them to testify to this?

My hunch is because it would add little to the case but would be a big burden to those witnesses. Why should they need to publicly testifiy about sorid details of past affairs when it's not necessary?

jmopinion

 

[Izzylizzy]

It was mentioned multiple times during the trial by the prosecution that BB told other affair partners of his wish or plan to get rid of his wife but he didn’t get a willing accomplice until JM. Why didn’t the prosecution call any of them to testify to this?

In a divorce sense or death sense?

I'm getting more and more disgusted with the CW's strategy and performance in general but especially not calling anyone for CB and the "other affair partners " in BB's sordid existence.
imo

 

[Izzylizzy]

My hunch is because it would add little to the case but would be a big burden to those witnesses. Why should they need to publicly testifiy about sorid details of past affairs when it's not necessary?

jmopinion

Not necessary to who?
Two people were murdered and our concerns are supposed to be with women that had an affair with the accused murderer?
Not this gal.

I know you felt the same way about CB's sister not being called to testify when I posted that she should have been called by the CW to tell us about her sister and address BB' claims that she was into S & M, claims that she was reported to have been shaking her head no when BB was telling them to the jury.
imo

 

[turaj]

In a divorce sense or death sense?

I'm getting more and more disgusted with the CW's strategy and performance in general but especially not calling anyone for CB and the "other affair partners " in BB's sordid existence.
imo

it sure would have added some interest to a boring presentation however I think Monday will show it was not necessary. More than enough evidence to convict both he and JM. JM got REAL LUCKY.

 

[Kysoze]

In a divorce sense or death sense?

I'm getting more and more disgusted with the CW's strategy and performance in general but especially not calling anyone for CB and the "other affair partners " in BB's sordid existence.
imo

I don’t believe it was said specifically but definitely implied death

 

[turaj]

Not necessary to who?
Two people were murdered and our concerns are supposed to be with women that had an affair with the accused murderer?
Not this gal.

I know you felt the same way about CB's sister not being called to testify when I posted that she should have been called by the CW to tell us about her sister and address BB' claims that she was into S & M, claims that she was reported to have been shaking her head no when BB was telling them to the jury.
imo

most sisters would have been shaking their heads. I would say her sister might be the last to know about some kinky side of CB. What I find obvious is that CB is smart, very smart and would never use her work computer to organize a meeting like this or have any site of that nature on it. No way...no how. BB thought he was so smart and the reality was he was one of the most dumb murderers I have seen in trial.

 

[Izzylizzy]

it sure would have added some interest to a boring presentation however I think Monday will show it was not necessary. More than enough evidence to convict both he and JM. JM got REAL LUCKY.

Let's wait and see what the judge does with the CW's recommendation that she gets "time served" at her sentencing then booted back to Brazil.
She can get up to 10 yrs but even if she gets the 10 she got off easy.

I still think the CW could have convicted them both with "circumstantial evidence" and no need to have had JM as a witness for the CW and cause so much confusion for the jury.

Another issue I wish was addressed is that Carrroll told the jury that JM's plea comes with a recommended "time served" yet neither he or the CW told the jury that the recommendation is not a done deal and the judge can sentence her up to the 10 yrs.
It came across like JM is definitely out of here soon and BB is left holding the bag which could cause some jurors to be sympathetic towards him.
imo

 

[Izzylizzy]

most sisters would have been shaking their heads. I would say her sister might be the last to know about some kinky side of CB. What I find obvious is that CB is smart, very smart and would never use her work computer to organize a meeting like this or have any site of that nature on it. No way...no how. BB thought he was so smart and the reality was he was one of the most dumb murderers I have seen in trial.

We don't know what most sisters would have been doing and that is not the issue.
The issue is to humanize CB which had not been done by the CW and as far as did CB engage or not in S & M are we to believe the man whose charged with her murder just because he said she did and with no evidence?
The sister can negate that claim also with no evidence so what's the difference?
At least someone spoke up for CB and BB's S & M claims are not just hanging in the air over the jury with no push back,
imo

 

[Lawnguylander1964]

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

jmopinion

We witnessed that first hand when BB was on the stand. I don't know why his lawyer let him give those long winded answers. The McD's app and the windows explanations were so over the top unnecessary (IMO).

 

[Lawnguylander1964]

BB wasn’t cooperating with the police so I think the first time the prosecution became aware of the supposed work meeting was when he testified. Therefore it’s at least possible that when his coworkers were interviewed they weren’t asked about a meeting nor would they have mentioned it on their own because it didn’t actually exist.

I can imagine that this person was watching this part of the trial and losing their mind listening to this bs story BB was making up on the stand.

 

[Yemelyan]

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.

Glad you mentioned their familiar and casual use of the given name "Joe" in their testimony. I also found this beyond weird. If I had shot someone, previously unknown to me, who was attacking my spouse, I think I would refer to him as "the man" or "the attacker" or anything but their first name!

 

[Lawnguylander1964]

Fairfax County doesn't have an unlimited amount of money and lawyers to try this case. But it does strike me as odd that with the few murders they have each year that they put on such a lean prosecution. But I also think there's probably a fine line between having a 4-6 week trial that brings out every person even remotely associated with the case and doing a lean trial that hits all the necessary evidence. At some point, you bury the jury in minutia that doesn't matter.

I guess we'll know soon enough if it was too lean.

 

[ttjo]

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

IMO it was to show his character. She said “ isnt it true that you had an affair with your best friends wife” and he answered “ well first of all he wasnt my best friend” Great answer and he excused how she wasnt really married , she wanted her husband but her husband didnt want her, blah blah blah Like that all makes it ok. And then she said “but you were married…” he spent so much time trying to make the affair sound ok because of her situation and his never even factored in. I think tHe lawyer made her point but he didnt get it.

This shag bandit, has had multiple affairs with anyone , no discretion, his best friends wife, the nanny, randoms whoever…
He thinks he is some Romeo and shmoozes till he gets what he wants . hes a predator.

 

[Kysoze]

We witnessed that first hand when BB was on the stand. I don't know why his lawyer let him give those long winded answers. The McD's app and the windows explanations were so over the top unnecessary (IMO).

It also took him what seemed like 10-15 to describe his ascent up the stairs. With the help of Carroll, BB even told us how many steps were on each flight of stairs which was overkill.