The au pair who crafted an elaborate double murder plot with former IRS agent Brendan Banfield and later testified towards him in court docket was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday, the maximum sentence and properly above the joint sentencing suggestion.
Juliana Peres Magalhães, 25, pleaded responsible in October 2024 to involuntary manslaughter of Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors mentioned she and Brendan Banfield lured Ryan to the Banfields’ Virginia house beneath the guise of a BDSM sexual encounter with Banfield’s spouse, Christine, in the lethal plot.
As a part of a plea deal, Peres Magalhães agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and testify towards Brendan Banfield. In trade, prosecutors agreed to suggest she be sentenced to time served. She has been in custody since her arrest in October 2023.
Still, the ultimate sentencing choice fell to the court docket. Manslaughter is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
After listening to a tearful apology from Peres Magalhães and mournful statements from Ryan’s household, Judge Penney S. Azcarate mentioned she couldn’t settle for the advice of time served. She known as the case “the most serious manslaughter scenario the court has ever seen.”
“Your actions were deliberate, self-serving and demonstrated a profound disregard for human life,” the choose mentioned. “So let’s get straight: You do not deserve anything other than incarceration and a life of reflection on what you have done to the victim and his family. May it weigh heavily on your soul.”
The sentencing stems from the salacious double killing of Christine Banfield, 37, and Ryan, 39, in a case that featured allegations of a love triangle, BDSM sexual function play and false 911 calls.
As prosecutors informed it, Brendan Banfield started a romantic affair with Peres Magalhães, the household’s Brazilian au pair, in August 2022, they usually hatched a convoluted plot to kill off Banfield’s spouse and be collectively.
Brendan Banfield discovered responsible of double murder in au pair affair trial
According to Peres Magalhães’ testimony, they created pretend accounts beneath Christine’s title on a sexual fetish web site after which lured Ryan to the house beneath the guise of a consensual however violent sexual encounter.
When Ryan got here to the house in February 2023, Brendan Banfield fatally stabbed his spouse and shot Ryan, Peres Magalhães testified. Peres Magalhães additionally shot Ryan, she mentioned.
Banfield then staged the scene to make it seem like he had stumbled upon a violent assault and shot Ryan in self-defense, she testified.
Afterward, Peres Magalhães moved into Brendan Banfield’s bed room; investigators later discovered a framed photograph of the 2 on his bedside desk.
Banfield was convicted of two counts of murder earlier this month. He is anticipated to be sentenced to life in prison May 8.
Au pair apologized and Ryan’s household spoke to court docket
At Friday’s sentencing, two members of Ryan’s household informed the court docket about their beloved “Joe,” who they mentioned was killed after which falsely slandered as a rapist and assassin.
“What I do hope is that even for a moment, that the world, and you, judge, will say Joe meant more than nothing,” his mom, Deirdre Fisher, mentioned. “That he was someone worthy of dignity and life who didn’t deserved to be used and thrown away, treated as utterly disposable.”
His aunt, Sangeeta Ryan, mentioned her nephew cherished portray, martial arts and taking good care of uncared for animals, canines in specific.
“Joe cared for people, cared for animals, and Joe didn’t hurt people,” she mentioned.
She mentioned she hoped Peres Magalhães didn’t stroll free and as a substitute continued to replicate on the lives she destroyed.
“While we acknowledge the defendant for eventually coming forward with the truth, telling the truth doesn’t absolve her of responsibility,” Sangeeta Ryan mentioned.
Peres Magalhães then spoke to the court docket for about 4 minutes, apologizing to Ryan’s and Christine Banfield’s households.
“I lost myself in a relationship, leaving my morals and values behind,” she mentioned.
“I understand that I am to blame, and I am truly sorry for the pain I caused. I hope someday I can be forgiven, as I hope to be able to forgive myself,” she added.
The protection lawyer for Peres Magalhães, Ryan Campbell, requested the choose to comply with the beneficial sentence of time served. The au pair’s testimony was “integral” to Brendan Banfield’s conviction and to the households studying the reality, he mentioned.
Azcarate was unconvinced. She mentioned Peres Magalhães had, till her apology Friday, proven no empathy for Ryan. And the choose listed off a collection of actions the au pair took to lure Ryan to his dying after which cowl it up.
“At any point for at least the month prior, or that day, you could have stopped this,” Azcarate mentioned. “The plan did not work without your full involvement.”
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano issued an announcement acknowledging Peres Magalhães’ “invaluable” testimony to the case towards Banfield.
“Today’s hearing was dedicated specifically to Joe, a beloved son, nephew, and grandson, who was a perfect stranger to Magalhães and Brendan Banfield and tragically ensnared in their plot,” Descano mentioned. “The court cannot bring Joe back to his loved ones, but the court can ensure that Brendan, the mastermind behind this scheme, faces a lifetime in prison for his murder.”
Peres Magalhães was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and a firearm offense in October 2023. Brendan Banfield was indicted on murder costs in September 2024, only a month earlier than Peres Magalhães formally agreed to her plea deal.
At Banfield’s murder trial final month, Peres Magalhães admitted to the double murder scheme and laid out its particulars over three days of testimony. She mentioned she lastly got here ahead with the reality as a result of she felt guilt and disgrace.
“I withheld the truth for a long time, just to myself, and it was a lot for me to deal with and I just couldn’t deal with this anymore,” she mentioned.
Banfield took the stand in his personal protection and, whereas admitting to an affair, denied that he and the au pair got here up with any murderous plot.
“No, there was no plan,” he mentioned. “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. That is absolutely crazy.”
He testified that he went to his house one morning and came across a person raping and stabbing his spouse, so he shot the person.
The jury convicted Banfield of two counts of aggravated murder, a firearms offense and little one endangerment. His daughter, who was 4 on the time, was in the house on the time of the killings, prosecutors mentioned.
This story has been up to date with extra info.