FAIRFAX COUNTY — Chief Judge Penney Azcarate denied Brendan Banfield's motion to set aside his aggravated murder convictions. Banfield is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday and faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A jury convicted Banfield in February on two counts of aggravated murder for the 2023 killings of his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan. Banfield conspired with Juliana Peres Magalhães, who worked as an au pair for the Banfield family, in the commission of the murders. Banfield and Peres Magalhães were involved in a romantic affair at the time of the crimes.
Peres Magalhães received a 10-year prison sentence for her involvement in the case as part of a plea agreement. The killings occurred at the Banfield family residence in Herndon, where Brendan Banfield lured Joseph Ryan under the pretext of a staged scenario involving his wife.
Defense attorney John Carroll argued that three prosecutorial actions improperly influenced the jury's verdict. The defense claimed prosecutors referenced Banfield's pre-arrest silence during trial as incriminating evidence and failed to properly disclose certain witnesses prior to trial. Judge Azcarate ruled that prosecutors complied with established witness disclosure rules.
The defense also contended that Juliana Peres Magalhães provided false testimony during cross-examination after testifying for the prosecution. Judge Azcarate ruled that Peres Magalhães's courtroom responses were appropriate and indicated no intent to mislead jurors. Prosecutors intend to present three victim impact statements before the imposition of Banfield's sentence. Aggravated murder is the most severe criminal charge in Virginia following the abolition of the death penalty by former Governor Ralph Northam in 2021.