Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, 48 Hours listeners. Quick programming note, our postmortem for the sneak attack on Caitlin Lyon drops tomorrow, but 48 Hours Plus subscribers can hear it right now. Today, we're bringing you a timely episode with our special coverage, taking you inside the Banfield trial verdict. Here is 48 Hours correspondent, Anne-Marie Green. Just a trigger warning for you.
Some of this reporting is disturbing, so please listen and watch with care. Welcome to a special episode of the 48 Hours podcast, Inside the Banfield Trial. I'm your host, 48 Hours correspondent, Anne-Marie Green. And we have a verdict in the case of Brendan Banfield. He's the man charged with the aggravated murder of his wife, Christine, and another man, Joseph Ryan, on February 24th, 2023.
Banfield was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder.
Chapter 2: What was the verdict in the Banfield trial?
He was also found guilty of child endangerment and the use of a firearm. So this case was dubbed the au pair affair because of Brendan's relationship with the Banfield's live-in nanny from Brazil, Juliana Perez Magaliz. Now, Juliana pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the shooting of Joseph Ryan and cooperated with the government, testifying against Brendan.
So here to discuss this verdict, along with Brendan's own testimony, is 48 Hours producer Michelle Sigona. Michelle, you were in the courtroom as all the events unfolded, and we are so happy to have you here.
Anne-Marie, it's great to see you. Thank you so much for having me.
So there was a lot of evidence in this case, you know, a lot of digital evidence, a lot of physical evidence, certainly testimony from law enforcement, testimony from experts. But really, at the end of the day, it really felt like this was a case of he said, she said. Brendan versus his former lover, Juliana.
There are only four people who know what really happened, and unfortunately, two have died. This is all about Brendan versus Juliana. Here's prosecutor Jenna Sands' final argument about what happened.
Brendan Banfield and Juliana Perez Magaliz colluded to kill Joseph Ryan and Christine Banfield. That makes sense. They created accounts, they chatted up potential victims, they got Joe Ryan into the house, and then they shot him.
Brendan stabbed Christine, let her bleed out on the floor, and then dripped, smeared, and wiped her blood on Joseph Ryan's body to make it look like he had attacked Christine. Then they called the police. Brendan let Juliana take the fall, and it took a little bit of doing, But here we are, and it's his turn to be held accountable.
Whereas Brendan's attorney, John Carroll, said this.
Juliana made it up. She told the Commonwealth what they wanted to hear. And without question, they just took it as their story. She told this lie to secure herself a deal that benefited her.
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Chapter 3: Who is Juliana Peres Magalhães and what was her role in the case?
I want to talk about the relationship he had with Juliana. How does he say it began? Who was responsible for starting this affair, according to him?
According to Brendan, he says Juliana is the one who started making advances towards him. He went into great detail about how they started this physical relationship with one another inside the home. He also said Juliana, basically, what he told her was, this is just an affair. and that he had had previous affairs. And this would not change his relationship with Christine.
Christine was his partner for 19 years. Twelve of those years, they were actually married. And right now, you can hear from his lawyer, John Carroll.
Now, was Christine aware of your affair? I don't believe she was aware of the affair between me and Juliana. Was she aware of your previous affairs?
She was aware of at least two previous affairs. Okay. And likewise, were you aware of her affairs?
Yes, I was also aware that she had affairs.
So this is the first time we're hearing this. Brandon says that Christine had affairs as well.
It felt like that part about Christine having affairs was just sort of slipped in, mentioned in passing very quickly. And that is the real unfortunate part in these types of cases, Anne-Marie. You know this. The defense can make any kind of claim about a victim. And unfortunately, Christine is not here to be a voice and to defend herself.
Brendan testified she had a previous BDSM affair when they lived in New York, was interested in sexual violence. Again, his claims. and that she was a sexual assault nurse examiner, setting her up that if she had some sort of possible history in engaging in violent sex relations. But it was something he said he had not had any interest in pursuing. Again, this is his version of events.
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Chapter 4: What evidence was presented in the Banfield trial?
So the last time we spoke about this case for the last episode, you know, we talked about Brendan and Juliana being in love, like this, you know, like that was part of kind of the motivation for this plot. But then Brendan seemed to be really downplaying the relationship. I mean, what's that about?
And the prosecutor challenged him, you better believe that, on that cross-examination. Did you love her?
There was points that I told her that I loved her.
You told her that you love her, but you didn't actually love her.
I would say... I would say that I had feelings for her, but they weren't nearly as strong as feelings for my wife.
The Commonwealth even admitted multiple lengthy love letters for the jury to see. This was after Juliana was arrested, professing his love for her. One letter even mentioned he was obsessed with her happiness.
So in regards to this alleged plot, Brendan's attorney just flat out asked him if he created a plan with Juliana to kill his wife, Christine. Here's his response.
No, there was no plan. At this point, our relationship is maybe six to eight weeks old. 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.
So six to eight weeks. First off, I did not know it was just six to eight weeks. But what is he inferring that that's just too short of a time to plot with your lover to kill your wife? Maybe if the relationship had been six months longer, that would be a reasonable argument.
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