Banfield Calls Murder Conspiracy 'Absurd' as He Testifies in Fairfax Double-Homicide Trial

Brendan Banfield, the Virginia man charged in the Feb. 24, 2023 killings of his wife, Christine Banfield, and a nearby man, testified Wednesday that while he had a relationship with their former au pair, he did not conspire with her to commit murder.

Under questioning from his attorney, Banfield acknowledged an affair with 25-year-old Juliana Peres Magalhaes that began in August 2022, about a year after the couple hired her to care for their daughter. The 40-year-old former IRS agent said, 'I did not stop her advances,' but repeatedly denied any plan to kill his wife.

'I think that it’s an absurd line of questioning... That is absolutely crazy,' Banfield told the court, calling suggestions of a plotted scheme to 'get rid of my wife' unfounded. He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of aggravated murder and a related firearms charge and faces a possible life sentence if convicted.

Prosecution's Allegations

Prosecutors say Peres Magalhaes helped lure the other victim, Joseph Ryan, by posing as Christine on a BDSM social site using a fake FetLife profile. Peres Magalhaes testified last week that the profile was intended to draw Ryan to the Banfield home for what he believed would be a staged sexual fantasy; she said the prosecution's theory was that the plan would later be framed as self-defense after Ryan allegedly stabbed Christine.

Defense Response

Banfield's lawyers have attacked Peres Magalhaes' credibility, noting she pleaded to a reduced manslaughter charge in 2024 after her 2023 arrest and arguing she had motivation to cooperate with prosecutors. The defense highlighted letters she wrote after her arrest that expressed frustration with Banfield and fears about prison, and they questioned her mental health and vulnerability as an immigrant far from family.

For his part, Banfield described his long relationship with Christine, saying they met as 18-year-old freshmen at Quinnipiac University and spent much of their lives planning a future together. He acknowledged that both he and Christine had been unfaithful at times and that they had entered couples counseling to try to repair their marriage.

What Happened That Morning

Officials say that on Feb. 24, 2023, Peres Magalhaes called 911 to report a friend had been hurt; Banfield then took the phone and told a dispatcher an 'unknown male' had entered his home. A recorded 911 call played at trial captured Banfield saying, 'There's somebody here. I shot them. He stabbed her. There's several marks on her neck. What do I do?'

Police found Christine Banfield fatally stabbed in an upstairs bedroom and Ryan fatally shot nearby.

Trial Status and Correction

Banfield took the stand after prosecutors rested. His testimony was delayed two days by a blizzard. Prosecutors are expected to resume examining him when the trial reconvenes Thursday morning in Fairfax County.

Correction (Jan. 28, 2025): A prior subheadline misstated the accusations; Banfield is charged with killing his wife and a stranger, not the woman with whom he allegedly had an affair.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.