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

[LetsSolvIt]

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

What I remember reading or hearing was that BB’s testimony this week in court was the first time he told his story about the morning of the murder. My recollection is that he’s been uncooperative with LE — not answering their questions — and continuously taking the fifth. If these recollections are correct LE wouldn’t have heard about him having a meeting that morning, right? My musings!

 

[mickey2942]

You learn a lot of interesting things on WS. Just saying.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Come join us over on the Mamta Kafle Bhatt forum. He used his Federal Government issued work computer for his searches.

That case haunts me, I truly worry he will get away with it.

 

[jeff2034]

Both the CW and the defense called voice experts regarding the 911 hang up call. Apparently there is a voice that is heard right after the 911 operator says what is your emergency and just before the groaning starts. The call starts at about 2:19 in the link below in case anyone wants to hear the original call.

The CW called an expert who analyzed this portion of the audio. testimony is here:

CW asked the expert what, based on your analysis, did the voice say? But the defense objected and the judge sustained the objection and would not let the expert answer.
I clipped this portion of the audio and amplified it and slowed it down. It is attached.
I'd love to know what others think they hear. I hear 5 words. I believe I know what the first 4 words are, but I cannot make out the 5th. Maybe it's just my imagination and I'm just hearing words that aren't there. It is difficult to hear anything at first, I had listen to it several times before I think I could make it out. I will not post what I think I hear yet, so as not to bias anyone who wants to listen and take a guess.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I think I hear “don’t” and it sounds like a male voice not JR. I think this supports JPM’s testimony that CB told her to call 911 after BB shot JR and before CB was stabbed. Jmooo.

 

[Angelo]

I wonder if Brendan knew about the 1995 Donnah Winger, Roger Harrington murders. Very similar plot. 48 Hours did a story on it. There is also a book.

Mark Winger was convicted in June 2002 of murdering his wife, Donnah and Roger Harrington, who Winger had set up as a patsy for Donnah’s murder, in an intricate plot.

Donnah was bludgeoned to death with a hammer, and Roger Harrington was shot. Mark Winger said he was in the basement and heard noises. He claimed he came upstairs to find Roger Harrington kneeling over his prone wife with a hammer and he shot Roger to stop him.

Later came out that Mark Winger was having an affair and wanted Donnah dead. He lured Roger Harrington to the house in a double murder set-up.

Invitation To A Murder
Families torn apart by killer dad reflect on years they believed he was a hero
Invitation to Murder | Full Episode

 

[Tortoise]

I wonder if Brendan knew about the 1995 Donnah Winger, Roger Harrington murders. Very similar plot. 48 Hours did a story on it. There is also a book.

Mark Winger was convicted in June 2002 of murdering his wife, Donnah and Roger Harrington, who Winger had set up as a patsy for Donnah’s murder, in an intricate plot.

Donnah was bludgeoned to death with a hammer, and Roger Harrington was shot. Mark Winger said he was in the basement and heard noises. He claimed he came upstairs to find Roger Harrington kneeling over his prone wife with a hammer and he shot Roger to stop him.

Later came out that Mark Winger was having an affair and wanted Donnah dead. He lured Roger Harrington to the house in a double murder set-up.

Invitation To A Murder
Families torn apart by killer dad reflect on years they believed he was a hero
Invitation to Murder | Full Episode

That's a lot of similarities! Even down to Harrington being heard moaning in the background of the 911 call, before being shot a second time, and Winger claiming it was his baby crying.

This guy plotted to have his ex-paramour, who dished the dirt on him, murdered three years after he was found guilty, and was sentenced to an additional 35 years!

I think the Commonwealth could have emphasized much more how lying and deceit is Brendan's second nature, having had an affair in Christine's own home. They should have blown apart his lie of being so proud and respectful of his 19-year marriage. They should have asked him if he would be willing to bring his therapist into court and reveal his part of the couple's therapy, whether there was anything whatsoever pertaining to his feelings about Christine's alleged past actions.

JMO

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I wonder if Brendan knew about the 1995 Donnah Winger, Roger Harrington murders. Very similar plot. 48 Hours did a story on it. There is also a book.

Mark Winger was convicted in June 2002 of murdering his wife, Donnah and Roger Harrington, who Winger had set up as a patsy for Donnah’s murder, in an intricate plot.

Donnah was bludgeoned to death with a hammer, and Roger Harrington was shot. Mark Winger said he was in the basement and heard noises. He claimed he came upstairs to find Roger Harrington kneeling over his prone wife with a hammer and he shot Roger to stop him.

Later came out that Mark Winger was having an affair and wanted Donnah dead. He lured Roger Harrington to the house in a double murder set-up.

Invitation To A Murder
Families torn apart by killer dad reflect on years they believed he was a hero
Invitation to Murder | Full Episode

I have always thought he tried to do Winger one better using his electronic forensics and investigative training. There was also a tv show episode with a similar plot, likely based on Winger, The Closer. Jmooo. In Winger, he told the story to a subsequent romantic partner who was the key witness, like JPM. Jmooo.

 

[Tortoise]

Both the CW and the defense called voice experts regarding the 911 hang up call. Apparently there is a voice that is heard right after the 911 operator says what is your emergency and just before the groaning starts. The call starts at about 2:19 in the link below in case anyone wants to hear the original call.

The CW called an expert who analyzed this portion of the audio. testimony is here:

CW asked the expert what, based on your analysis, did the voice say? But the defense objected and the judge sustained the objection and would not let the expert answer.
I clipped this portion of the audio and amplified it and slowed it down. It is attached.
I'd love to know what others think they hear. I hear 5 words. I believe I know what the first 4 words are, but I cannot make out the 5th. Maybe it's just my imagination and I'm just hearing words that aren't there. It is difficult to hear anything at first, I had listen to it several times before I think I could make it out. I will not post what I think I hear yet, so as not to bias anyone who wants to listen and take a guess.

I can't make out the words, but I do hear a man's voice speaking loudly. Without knowing what was being said, if that was around 15 minutes before Brendan went upstairs, he's blown his cover by shouting, Joseph Ryan would have been alerted to Brendan's presence in the house and could have made a run for it.

 

[ryan8901]

I can't make out the words, but I do hear a man's voice speaking loudly. Without knowing what was being said, if that was around 15 minutes before Brendan went upstairs, he's blown his cover by shouting, Joseph Ryan would have been alerted to Brendan's presence in the house and could have made a run for it.

I think you have the timeline wrong. According to JM the first 911 call was made from the bedroom when CB instructed her (JM) to do so after BB shot JR. BB then instructed JM to hang up which could be what we hear being said on the recording. There’s then approximately 15 minutes until the second 911 call. What I don’t get is why was JM dumb enough to actually call 911 when CB told her to given the plan they had. She needed BB to tell her to hang up??

 

[Angelo]

Juliana testified that Christina told her to call 911 right after Joseph was shot and Juliana did. When Brendan realized Juliana was calling 911 he made a cut/stop motion with his hand signaling Juliana to hang up. If this is correct, Christina has not yet been stabbed.

I downloaded the first 911 call to manipulate it better. You can hear a man's voice starting at 8 seconds. It continues and at about 11 seconds it sounds like he says, "I have this" and then you can hear Joseph moaning. The voice sounds just like Brendan Banfield.

First 911 Call

 

[Angelo]

I think you have the timeline wrong. According to JM the first 911 call was made from the bedroom when CB instructed her (JM) to do so after BB shot JR. BB then instructed JM to hang up which could be what we hear being said on the recording. There’s then approximately 15 minutes until the second 911 call. What I don’t get is why was JM dumb enough to actually call 911 when CB told her to given the plan they had. She needed BB to tell her to hang up??

BBM~

Juliana was probably panicking after seeing Joseph get shot and automatically did what Christina instructed her to do without thinking. It's one thing to talk about the plan, another to actually be taking part in it in real time.
Juliana also said she she crouched down behind the bed and covered her eyes and ears while Brendan was stabbing Christina and was also pacing.

 

[Kellygirl2013]

I think you have the timeline wrong. According to JM the first 911 call was made from the bedroom when CB instructed her (JM) to do so after BB shot JR. BB then instructed JM to hang up which could be what we hear being said on the recording. There’s then approximately 15 minutes until the second 911 call. What I don’t get is why was JM dumb enough to actually call 911 when CB told her to given the plan they had. She needed BB to tell her to hang up??

You have to remember there were two diff. Versions of their story. In Julianna’s version, she called from the bedroom when she indicated Christine asked her to after Joe was shot. She said that she hung it up after Brendan a made non-verbal action (i.e. cutting motion with his hand) telling her too.
But in the defense’s version she made the 1st 911 call from down in the basement and then hung up but not before the dog’s moaning bark was picked up on the call.
I cant make out anything in either the original version or the clipped/slowed down version but it does sound like a male voice. I am assuming the audio expert was able to somehow separate the 911 operators words from whatever was being said before the moaning and that’s what he was going to testify to? I wonder if the public will ever get to know that information??
IMO, It does show Brendan was being deceptive again by the fact that his voice is on the call in the presence of Julia, as his claim was that he wasn't with Julianna during that first call.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Both the CW and the defense called voice experts regarding the 911 hang up call. Apparently there is a voice that is heard right after the 911 operator says what is your emergency and just before the groaning starts. The call starts at about 2:19 in the link below in case anyone wants to hear the original call.

The CW called an expert who analyzed this portion of the audio. testimony is here:

CW asked the expert what, based on your analysis, did the voice say? But the defense objected and the judge sustained the objection and would not let the expert answer.
I clipped this portion of the audio and amplified it and slowed it down. It is attached.
I'd love to know what others think they hear. I hear 5 words. I believe I know what the first 4 words are, but I cannot make out the 5th. Maybe it's just my imagination and I'm just hearing words that aren't there. It is difficult to hear anything at first, I had listen to it several times before I think I could make it out. I will not post what I think I hear yet, so as not to bias anyone who wants to listen and take a guess.

Finally we hear from an extremely competent dispatcher.
Will listen again

 

[Tortoise]

I think you have the timeline wrong. According to JM the first 911 call was made from the bedroom when CB instructed her (JM) to do so after BB shot JR. BB then instructed JM to hang up which could be what we hear being said on the recording. There’s then approximately 15 minutes until the second 911 call. What I don’t get is why was JM dumb enough to actually call 911 when CB told her to given the plan they had. She needed BB to tell her to hang up??

I was discrediting Brendan's version ("if that was around 15 minutes before Brendan went upstairs").

My actual belief is that Juliana called 911 after Joe was shot.

 

[turaj]

BBM~

Juliana was probably panicking after seeing Joseph get shot and automatically did what Christina instructed her to do without thinking. It's one thing to talk about the plan, another to actually be taking part in it in real time.
Juliana also said she she crouched down behind the bed and covered her eyes and ears while Brendan was stabbing Christina and was also pacing.

Agree 100% about JM panicking...I think hatching the plans was exciting for her but the reality was too much. She is young, in another country and while she appears cold on the stand got to wonder what is going on in her mind as this unfolds. She is guilty right along with BB . AFter watching that scene how could she move in his bedroom or even stay in the home at all. I just don't get it. We know nothing of her background in Brazil....maybe she has seen more than I think.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Juliana testified that Christina told her to call 911 right after Joseph was shot and Juliana did. When Brendan realized Juliana was calling 911 he made a cut/stop motion with his hand signaling Juliana to hang up. If this is correct, Christina has not yet been stabbed.

I downloaded the first 911 call to manipulate it better. You can hear a man's voice starting at 8 seconds. It continues and at about 11 seconds it sounds like he says, "I have this" and then you can hear Joseph moaning. The voice sounds just like Brendan Banfield.

First 911 Call

If the jury hears that too... I am hoping for a conviction early Monday

 

[Izzylizzy]

Say wha?

“I used her before and after the murders had occurred,” Carrigan-Kent said. “So I had no idea that any of this had happened.”

'I had no idea': Ex-employer of au pair speaks out as Fairfax Co. murder trial continues

As testimony continues in a high-profile double murder trial, a Northern Virginia mother is sharing her shock after realizing the woman she once trusted to care

wjla.com

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

I thought au pairs were only to work for host family? After? Gotta vet your childcare. Google would have been a good place to check after.

 

[jeff2034]

Okay I definitely hear a male voice on the recording and the only male in the room who is not incapacitated is BB. I hear on the recording "Get the knife Christie __" I cannot make out the last word. Perhaps my overactive imagination is just hearing things. I hope at some point we actually find out what the expert analyst thinks he heard. Assuming these are the words, not sure it helps either the CW or the defense.
I forget - did BB say he was in the basement with JM when the 911 hang up call was made? If he said he wasn't, then this voice analysis doesn't corroborate BB's story since this is definitely a male voice. Of course, the groaning on the call is even better evidence that this call was not made in the basement.