Ex-IRS particular agent Brendan Banfield Friday was discovered responsible of murdering his spouse and a sex-seeking stranger whom prosecutors alleged he lured to the couple’s suburban Washington, DC, mansion as a part of an elaborate plot he hatched together with his Brazilian nanny-turned-mistress.
The 40-year-old former fed was convicted by a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, of killing spouse Christine, 37, and Joseph Ryan, 38. Prosecutors say Ryan arrived at Banfield’s Herndon residence believing he was assembly Christine for a kinky rendezvous on Feb. 24, 2023.
Brandan Banfield was additionally convicted of utilizing a weapon for the murders and of endangering his then-4-year-old daughter by leaving her unattended within the basement whereas the carnage unfolded.
The panel consisting of seven girls and 5 males reached the decision after 9 hours of deliberation.
Banfield appeared disillusioned, bowing his head barely and casting his eyes downward as the decision was learn out.
He faces life in jail with out the potential for parole at his sentencing on Might 8.
Over the course of the sordid three-week trial, the 12-person jury heard from each Banfield’s Brazilian au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, and from Banfield himself — when he took the uncommon step of testifying in his personal protection.
Magalhães you — who pleaded responsible as a part of a prosecution settlement for a sentence of time served — testified that mere months after she started sleeping along with her married employer, the duo began cooking up a twisted scheme to kill Christine.
The pair began a fetish account, pretending to be the mom-of-one, and lured in Ryan to supposedly assist Christine stay out her supposed fantasy of being raped, the nanny testified.
Ryan got here to the Banfield’s residence, armed with a knife as instructed, and commenced taking part in out the kinky sex-session with an unwitting, Christine — who was beforehand a nurse for sexual assault victims — the au pair claimed.
Magalhães, who taken care of the Banfield’s daughter, waited in a automobile exterior the home, calling Banfield and telling him an intruder was of their home — however it was all a part of an elaborate frame-job, in keeping with prosecutors.
Banfield rushed residence, and went inside with Magalhães, leaving the younger woman alone within the basement whereas the ugly scene unfolded upstairs.
The philandering husband shot Ryan together with his service weapon to make it seem like he’d bravely saved his spouse from an assault, after which stabbed Christine a number of instances within the neck, attempting to physician the scene to seem as if Ryan killed her, the nanny stated.
Banfield admitted to the romance with the au pair, admitted he’d cheated earlier than and stated Christine had additionally slept with different males and was into BDSM.
The accused assassin additionally copped to jurors that he shot Ryan, sustaining it was in protection of his spouse and never a part of a cold-blooded plan.
Throughout closing arguments Friday morning, Banfield’s lawyer, John Carroll, instructed the panelists Magalhães made up the entire story to avoid wasting her personal pores and skin and get off scot free.
“Juliana made it up,” Carroll stated. “She instructed the commonwealth what they needed to listen to.”
“Her complete story has been purchased and paid for,” stated Carroll, including that not solely would she skirt laborious time but in addition had the chance to promote her story to be made right into a documentary.
However prosecutor Jenna Sands instructed the jury there was a mountain of incriminating proof towards Banfield — together with however not restricted to the previous nanny’s damning testimony.
“He was in love with Juliana,” Sands stated. “He can fake this was a fling … He was afraid of dropping her. He wanted to do away with his spouse so that they may very well be collectively, so they might get married, so they might have kids collectively.”
Banfield has maintained his innocence.
Magalhães is anticipated to be sentenced within the close to future now that Banfield’s trial has wrapped.
