Virginia Man Convicted in Wife’s Murder After Affair and Staged Intruder Plot

A Virginia jury has found Brendan Banfield guilty of murdering his wife and another man in a case prosecutors said involved an affair, deception, and a staged crime scene. Banfield, 40, had claimed he walked in on Joseph Ryan attacking his wife, Christine Banfield, with a knife on February 24, 2023, and shot him in self-defense before their family’s Brazilian au pair, Juliana Magalhães, also fired. Prosecutors argued the story was fabricated, alleging Banfield orchestrated the encounter to eliminate his wife and use Ryan as a fall guy. The jury deliberated for nearly nine hours over two days before delivering the verdict. Banfield faces a possible life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for May 8.

During the trial, Magalhães testified that she and Banfield had been engaged in an affair and had impersonated Christine Banfield on a fetish website to lure Ryan to the home. According to her testimony, the plan was to create a scenario that would make it appear they had killed an intruder who was attacking Christine. Magalhães previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2024 and cooperated with prosecutors. Defense attorney John Carroll attacked her credibility, arguing she was testifying to avoid a lengthy prison sentence, while Banfield himself called her account “absolutely crazy” when he took the stand.

Prosecutors, led by Jenna Sands, told jurors the case did not hinge solely on Magalhães’ testimony, citing what they described as extensive supporting evidence. This included forensic analysis suggesting Christine Banfield’s blood had been dripped onto Ryan’s hands, contradicting the self-defense narrative. The defense also pointed to internal disagreements within the police department over digital evidence linked to the fake social media account. Magalhães is expected to be sentenced after Banfield, with attorneys indicating she could receive credit for time served.

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