Banfield trial: 5 things to know about Brendan Banfield case after guilty verdict

Brendan Banfield stood accused of conspiring with his family's au pair, with whom he was having an affair, to kill his wife and blame it on a stranger.

Brendan Banfield has been convicted of double murder. Deliberations were on and a verdict was delivered today. Jurors began their deliberations on Friday if the former IRS law-enforcement officer conspired with the family's Brazilian au pair, with whom he was having an affair, to kill his wife and blame the matter on a stranger.

Brendan Banfield, a former IRS officer, was charged with aggravated murder and use of a firearm in February 2023 after the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield, and a stranger, Joseph Ryan. (X/@imadriienne)

Banfield, a former IRS officer, was charged with aggravated murder and use of a firearm in February 2023 after the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield, and a stranger, Joseph Ryan. The trial took place at Fairfax County, Virginia.

Here's five things to know about the trial.

Brendan Banfield trial: 5 things to know

1. The jury deliberations came after weeks of testimony from key witnesses including Juliana Magalhães, Banfield's former mistress. The trial had officially started on January 13, 2026.
2. John Carroll, the defense attorney, told jurors that Banfield acted in self defense after finding his wife being attacked by Ryan in the master bedroom of their home in Herndon. As per Carroll, prosecutors rushed to judgement, overlooked conflicting evidence, and manipulated the former mistress to testify against the accused.
3. Prosecutors, meanwhile, said that Banfield wilfully and deliberately tried to kill Christine and Ryan, with the latter acting as the fall guy, so he could start his new life with Magalhães. Jenna Sands, the prosecutor on the case, said in her closing arguments that the former mistress' testimony aligned with the physical evidence.
4. The jury weighed charges including aggravated murder, firearms offenses and child abuse and felony child cruelty, before they announce their verdict, as per Fox 5.
5. Convicted of the most serious charges, Banfield could get life in jail without parole, as Virginia abolished the death penalty in 2021. The sentencing hearing is on May 8.

Magalhães, who was also charged with murder, pleaded to a lesser charge of manslaughter, back in 2024.