FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — In a courtroom filled with tension, Juliana Peres Magalhães, a Brazilian au pair who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, shared a harrowing account on Wednesday against her former employer and lover, Brendan Banfield, in a double homicide case.


Brendan Banfield is facing charges of aggravated murder for the 2023 deaths of his wife, Christine Banfield, and family friend, Joseph Ryan, at their home in northern Virginia. Banfield has pleaded not guilty and risks life imprisonment if convicted.


The prosecutors detailed that Banfield, an IRS agent, and Magalhães were involved romantically. To eliminate Christine, the pair crafted a deceitful scheme where they impersonated her on a fetish-centric social media site, leading to a month-long plot that concluded in violence. On the fateful day, testimony revealed, they staged the scene to appear as if Ryan had attacked Christine, who was found with a knife.


Magalhães, initially charged with murder, later accepted a plea deal for manslaughter in 2024 in exchange for her cooperation with the investigation. Sentencing awaits her, contingent on her willingness to assist authorities. Depending on her cooperation level, legal experts speculate that she may serve only her time already served.


During opening statements, Banfield's attorney, John Carroll, suggested that Magalhães had maintained her innocence until a change of heart prompted by disillusionment with her legal counsel led to her plea deal. The court was further engaged when Carroll made Magalhães read letters she penned from jail, filled with despair and hopelessness.


Carroll pointed out contradictions in her narrative, especially following an incident that landed her in the hospital. Magalhães admitted to withholding the truth for an extended period, indicating that mental strain affected her decision-making.


Compounding the case against Banfield are charges of child abuse and felony child cruelty, pertaining to his four-year-old daughter, who was present during the murders. The complexity of the case raises significant questions about the extent of culpability in relationships marred by betrayal and violence.


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Written with contributions from Associated Press writer Travis Loller in Nashville.