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

[LifeIsAMystery]

Thank you.
So she did want to stay and as long as CB was alive a student visa was all that was available to her to do so.

She had a visa through Oct as an au pair, Christine alive or not. He did not marry her to extend her stay, even after killing Christine. She was arrested in Oct in part to keep her in country and in part to put pressure on her. She had extended once as an au pair and that was the limit, Christine alive or not.

 

[ttjo]

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.

And no one asked him about his routine? You said you normally leave by 730, that day you left early…why?
The fact that a fetish guy was there at the crack of dawn didnt strike them as odd? Or to ask about it?

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Above premiers at 2pm today. I could not listen to all of her testimony in real time and am very curious about this set of exhibits.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

And no one asked him about his routine? You said you normally leave by 730, that day you left early…why?
The fact that a fetish guy was there at the crack of dawn didnt strike them as odd? Or to ask about it?

He said he left early for a work meeting. Then his former supervisor testified he was lying about it and that none of Banfield’s supervisors were even in VA that day.

 

[ttjo]

He said he left early for a work meeting. Then his former supervisor testified he was lying about it and that none of Banfield’s supervisors were even in VA that day.

But not until after right?

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.

 

[Izzylizzy]

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.

Couldn't they have done a temp hire/loan from a neighboring district for another attorney especially in a case like this that's involving 2 murders, 2 defendants and a prosecutor who was pulled off the case?

I think if there are any jurors more in BB's corner due to their not believing/liking JM that there's enough evidence from BB's own actions and in-actions to convince them of his guilt.
imo

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

But not until after right?

He made the claim about a meeting that day for the first time on the stand. Then his acting supervisor heard it, came forward and refuted it. No one knew about his false claim until he slipped it into testimony. No one could refute a false negative until then. Mooo. Detectives had spoken to co-workers. None of them said anything about a meeting that was not scheduled, obv.

 

[Izzylizzy]

He said he left early for a work meeting. Then his former supervisor testified he was lying about it and that none of Banfield’s supervisors were even in VA that day.

I was watching for a reaction from BB when Sands said T.Patrick Smith and saw none.
She did say that he would testify to rebut BB's testimony from yesterday.
At that point the court wasn't told he was BB's IRS superior but BB knew it and now I wonder if he knew what was coming?
imo

 

[Serononin]

By other jurisdictions i meant outside the US. The longstanding strict interpretation of the right to silence in the US effectively prevents local state law reform IIRC.

One of the main drivers of reform in the commonwealth was to prevent defendants from making up alibis years later at trial.

Yeah, here in the UK the rights a person is read when they're arrested include, "you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court"

 

[Lawnguylander1964]

Couldn't they have done a temp hire/loan from a neighboring district for another attorney especially in a case like this that's involving 2 murders, 2 defendants and a prosecutor who was pulled off the case?

I think if there are any jurors more in BB's corner due to their not believing/liking JM that there's enough evidence from BB's own actions and in-actions to convince them of his guilt.
imo

I know the counties share resources, especially Federal resources since we are so close to DC. But it's more equipment than manpower in most cases. One would think with a high profile case like this that they would do whatever it took to guarantee a conviction. But a lot of that is more political than anything else.

 

[Kellygirl2013]

Above premiers at 2pm today. I could not listen to all of her testimony in real time and am very curious about this set of exhibits.

All the allowable exhibits are up on the Fairfax county circuit court website under high profile cases. After reading his letters to her, I think I’ve changed my earlier stance and believe he was head over heels for her…….still reading them now.
ETA, his handwriting is atrocious, like a little kids writing.
ETAM (more)…. Although these were written after the murders while she was in jail but he was still out, the intensity of them feels like MORE motive for Brendan to commit the murders to be with J., so I’m surprised the Commonwealth gave such little weight to these as a motive!

 

[Izzylizzy]

Above premiers at 2pm today. I could not listen to all of her testimony in real time and am very curious about this set of exhibits.

Live

 

[Izzylizzy]

All the allowable exhibits are up on the Fairfax county circuit court website under high profile cases. After reading his letters to her, I think I’ve changed my earlier stance and believe he was head over heels for her…….still reading them now.
ETA, his handwriting is atrocious, like a little kids writing.

Thought I would have learned my lesson by now to check the posts before I post...but nooooo. lol
I see you already had posted live Gisela.

 

[Born2BWild]

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.

Christine still has a few things still available on her FB page. This is with the baby (VB) and the first au pair with her name blocked (by me).

There are also photos of CB as a bridesmaid at the 1st Au Pair’s wedding where she also gives a speech to the guests. Along with heartfelt tributes to CB after her death.

I think the photo shows how hard CB’s fitness/health regime was. She would highlight her journey and was super proud of her progress and weight loss.

1st AP was also from Brazil and I’m sure her experience with her gave CB hope for hiring AP #2.

I hope what I’ve shared is appropriate and I haven’t broken any rules.
But her CB’s social media history would erase any picture BB painted of her and really portrayed a woman committed to her nursing profession, her daughter & family and her daily health commitment.

MOO.

 

[ttjo]

All the allowable exhibits are up on the Fairfax county circuit court website under high profile cases. After reading his letters to her, I think I’ve changed my earlier stance and believe he was head over heels for her…….still reading them now.
ETA, his handwriting is atrocious, like a little kids writing.
ETAM (more)…. Although these were written after the murders while she was in jail but he was still out, the intensity of them feels like MORE motive for Brendan to commit the murders to be with J., so I’m surprised the Commonwealth gave such little weight to these as a motive!

Well he is no Nicholas sparks
I felt a little different, I didnt hear love letters I heard “ please dont flip on me, or take a plea deal and rat me out”
he wants her to gel like they have a future.
Way way way too shmoozy, too many movie quotes and lyric quotes. “ i will love you for a thousand years and I will love you for a thousand more” he may have loved his wife b/c they were relationship a long time but mourn platonic? He was to busy fantasizing about everything else. Inflating it in his head.
He lives in a fantasy world. He was conning JM , he’s smart enough to know they’d likely be offering her a plea deal in exchange for her testimony. Even if she took a plea deal, hes reminding her of their notebook moments, getting caught in the rain and naming their future children, as they collapsed on the bed and him petting her hair while they fell asleep unable to let go of eachother

And the award for best bull$hitter goes to…

 

[Lawnguylander1964]

I felt the same reading the letters. My mother is paying your legal fees, please don't go rogue and save yourself. Save me.

 

[mickey2942]

Who sets up a lover to come to their home, with child and nanny on location? Not! That alone is an issue. You would get a hotel room, take a day off work. And usually, meet prior for coffee or something.

Not that I would know...of course.

 

[ttjo]

I felt the same reading the letters. My mother is paying your legal fees, please don't go rogue and save yourself. Save me.

Yeah i think he just wants to be single and do whatever or whoever he wants.

 

[turaj]

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

i have watched a lot of commentators discussing JM deal and and all feel 100% judge will honor that agreement.

 

[turaj]

Who sets up a lover to come to their home, with child and nanny on location? Not! That alone is an issue. You would get a hotel room, take a day off work. And usually, meet prior for coffee or something.

Not that I would know...of course.

and set it up on your work computer from a hospital?