Brendan Banfield testified Wednesday in a Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom that he did not plot the killings of his wife and Joe Ryan, despite prosecutors’ portrayal of a months-long plan tied to his affair with his family’s au pair. Wearing a gray suit and a plaid tie, Banfield said he loved Christine Banfield and wanted to continue his marriage, even as evidence in the trial examines his relationship with Juliana Peres Magalhães.
Banfield told jurors that the affair began in what he described as casual circumstances. He described Magalhães scooting her chair closer while eating dinner one night when Christine Banfield was out of town, then said Magalhães followed him into his room at bedtime and he did not stop her.
While the case focuses on their relationship, Banfield testified that he and Magalhães did not plan to kill Christine Banfield and Ryan in the months that followed. Under questioning, Banfield objected to what he said prosecutors were implying about a plot. “I think that it’s an absurd line of questioning for something that is not serious, that a plan was made to get rid of my wife,” he said, adding, “That is absolutely crazy.”
Banfield is charged with aggravated murder in the killings of Christine Banfield and Ryan, and he has pleaded not guilty. The trial is expected to ask a northern Virginia jury to weigh Banfield’s testimony alongside other evidence. If convicted, Banfield could face life in prison, according to the AP report.
Prosecutors have said Banfield and Magalhães lured Ryan to their house, then shot him, and that Banfield later stabbed his wife. Prosecutors also allege that Banfield staged the scene to make it appear that Ryan had been a predator stabbing Christine Banfield, the AP reported.
A key witness for the prosecution is Magalhães herself, the AP said. Earlier in January, she testified that she and Banfield created an account in Christine Banfield’s name on a social media platform connected to sexual fetishes. Magalhães told the court that Ryan connected with the account and that users made plans to meet for a sexual encounter involving a knife.
According to the AP, Magalhães testified that Banfield had planned to kill his wife and live his life with her after they began their affair, describing months of plotting. The defense response in court has included challenging Magalhães’ motives and recollection. The AP reported that Banfield’s attorney, John Carroll, spent much of the trial scrutinizing Magalhães.
The AP also said Magalhães initially faced a second-degree murder charge in Ryan’s killing but later pleaded guilty to a downgraded manslaughter charge. The AP reported that on the stand, Magalhães said she did not remember who created an email address connected to the social media account or where she and Banfield were on the day it was procured. She also said she did not remember who wrote messages to Ryan, and she admitted negotiating with a true-crime author and producers to share her story for money.
In his own testimony, Banfield said his actions and relationship decisions did not reflect a desire to end his marriage. He testified that both he and his wife had affairs over their 19-year relationship, and that couples therapy led them to decide to continue their marriage. He said, “We were together the entire time. We didn’t break up at any point.”
Carroll asked Banfield whether he loved his wife, and Banfield responded, “Very much.” Carroll also asked whether Banfield wanted to continue his marriage, and Banfield answered, “Yes.”
Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local news