Brendan Banfield trial: Opening statements set for Tuesday in case of man accused of killing his wife and another man in plot with au pair
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Brendan Banfield faces a double-murder trial in Virginia, accused of killing his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan as part of a plot involving the family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães; he has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder charges and faces life imprisonment if convicted.
- Prosecutors allege Banfield and Peres Magalhães were engaged in an extramarital affair and conspired to kill Christine Banfield and Ryan, involving BDSM role play, gun range visits, and staged 911 calls to frame Ryan.
- Peres Magalhães pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for fatally shooting Ryan and is cooperating with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence, likely serving as the key witness
