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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - The murder trial of Brendan Banfield is now underway in Fairfax County. Banfield is accused of murdering his wife and another man — all amid an alleged affair with the family’s au pair.
Find live updates below. Watch the trial live in the player above, on FOX LOCAL, FOX 5 DC's YouTube page and on TikTok.
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Brendan Banfield Trial: Opening statements Tuesday
The murder trial of Brendan Banfield is now underway in Fairfax County, with opening statements set for Tuesday after a jury was seated Monday.
3:10 p.m. - Au Pair testifies
Juliana Peres Magalhães has started her testimony in the case. Magalhães has pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge and is expected to be a key witness for the prosecution.
She said Brendan allegedly told her divorce was not an option; that money was involved and he could lose custody of their child.
Magalhães says Brendan told her she had a plan to ‘get rid of’ Christine.
She also says Brendan launched the Fetlife account with Christine's email and posed as her.
2:30 p.m. - Chief Medical Examiner testimony
Dr. Meghan Kessler from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is testifying this afternoon about the victims' autopsies.
Kessler confirms that Joseph Ryan was killed from gunshots to his head and heart while Christine had stab wounds on her face and neck. She also had multiple abrasions and bruises, Kessler said.
11:55 a.m. - First responders testify
Officer Zachary Beckner testifying that Brendan Banfield appeared to have blood on his hands.
Beckner says he allowed Brendan to wash his hands in the aftermath of the killing. Police did not collect any samples of the blood on his hands. Beckner said he "felt bad for him."
Police also say they moved a gun at the scene and that one officer stepped on a knife.
10:40 a.m. - 911 call, body cam footage shared
The first witnesses on Tuesday are 911 dispatcher Alicia Dale and Officer Justin Hugh, the patrol officer on the scene.
The 911 call from Brendan Banfield and Juliana Peres Magalhães following the murder of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan was played during the ongoing murder trial Tuesday morning.
"I need help," Magalhães can be heard saying on the call.
"There’s somebody here, I shot him," Banfield can be heard saying. "He stabbed her. There’s several marks on her neck, what do I do?"
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"I SHOT HIM" | 911 call played in court during au pair affair murder trial
Brendan Banfield is accused of killing his wife, Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan amid what prosecutors describe as an affair with the family’s au pair. During day 2 of the au pair affair murder trial, a 911 call was played from the day the Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan were killed.