Jurors in the Fairfax County, Virginia, trial of Brendan Banfield, who is charged with aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife and another man, focused on blood evidence in the fourth day of the so-called “au pair affair” trial.
Blood stain analyst Iris Dalley Graff described what she saw from the crime scene photos in the February 2023 deaths of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan during Tuesday’s hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court.
Prosecutors said Brendan Banfield killed them both, as part of an elaborate plot with au pair Juliana Peres Magalh茫es to kill his wife and blame it on Ryan.
Initially charged with murder, Magalh茫es pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter, and testified last week against Banfield, with whom she was having an affair.
During Tuesday鈥檚 testimony, Graff described to jurors that blood leaves different stains based upon several factors, including whether it was airborne or transferred by contact.
In opening statements, Fairfax County prosecutors told jurors blood evidence would show that after stabbing his wife, Brendan Banfield purposely dripped her blood onto Ryan鈥檚 body to make it appear as if Ryan had stabbed Christine Banfield.
Graff testified that blood droplets found on Ryan鈥檚 forearm were consistent with 鈥渂lood drops from above鈥� on a horizontal surface.
Magalh茫es testified Brendan Banfield shot Ryan in the head, then she shot Ryan in the chest, before dialing 911.
In cross examination, defense attorney John Carroll challenged many of Graff鈥檚 expert opinions, saying she contradicted many of the findings gathered by homicide detectives.
In addition, Carroll questioned Graff鈥檚 observations about police body camera footage showing Brendan Banfield鈥檚 hands covered in blood, with his hands on his wife鈥檚 neck as police arrived.
Carroll pointed out that Brendan Banfield鈥檚 actions at the time would be consistent with someone trying to provide first aid until first responders arrived.
After the prosecution rested and the jury was sent home for the evening, defense attorney Carroll asked the judge to throw out all of the charges against Brendan Banfield.
“We haven鈥檛 heard a word from a single homicide detective, though there were at least 12 in place at the time,鈥� Carroll said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing that would implicate my client,鈥� Carroll said. 鈥淚t was a situation not of my client鈥檚 making.鈥�
Carroll said Magalh茫es changed her story many times.
鈥淚鈥檇 ask that you strike the five-count indictment,” Carroll said.
Prosecutor Jenna Sands countered the killings were 鈥渟taged by the defendant with the assistance of the nanny.鈥�
Judge Penney Azcarate ruled against the defense, determining that the jurors should be able to consider the case brought by the prosecution.
After Azcarate鈥檚 decision, Carroll told her he had 鈥渇our or five鈥� defense witnesses when the defense begins making its case Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
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