BANFIELD TRIAL DAY 7: Daughter Asked Au Pair "Can I Call You Mommy?" Hours After Mother's Death — Detective Reveals Pressure From Supervisors

Two bombshells dropped on Day 7 of the Brendan Banfield double murder trial in Fairfax County, Virginia.

First, the defense landed a significant blow. Homicide Detective Leah Smith testified that leadership pushed the catfishing theory before evidence supported it. According to Smith, she was told: "There are two theories and you need to get behind the right one." Defense attorney John Carroll revealed a forensic analyst was removed from the case after theorizing that Christine Banfield — not Brendan — was communicating with Joseph Ryan on the fetish website FetLife. The defense argues investigators had tunnel vision from the start.

Then came the prosecution's counter-punch. Victim services officer Saly Fayez testified that an intel detective overheard a conversation in a hotel lobby just hours after Christine's death. According to Fayez, Brendan's daughter Valerie asked the au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães: "Can I call you mommy now?" Juliana allegedly said yes. Then Valerie asked if Juliana would marry her daddy. The reported response: "I wish."

Lt. David Giaccio testified that Juliana's account only confirmed what forensic evidence already indicated. Even Detective Smith admitted Banfield's arrest was based on evidence, not the au pair's testimony.

Court resumes Friday. Brendan Banfield has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.

#BrendanBanfield #TrueCrimeToday #AuPairAffair #ChristineBanfield #MurderTrial #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #FetLife #JosephRyan #BreakingCrime

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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.