Juliana Magalhães Takes the Stand: "I Saw Him Stabbing Her" — Banfield Trial Day 1

Day 1 of the Brendan Banfield murder trial delivered explosive testimony from the prosecution's star witness — Juliana Peres Magalhães, the Brazilian au pair who was having an affair with Banfield and has admitted to firing one of the shots that killed Joseph Ryan.

Magalhães testified that Banfield told her in October 2022 he wanted to "get rid of" his wife Christine because he didn't want to pay for a divorce or share custody of their daughter. She described how they allegedly created a fake profile on FetLife using Christine's identity to lure Ryan to the home — where prosecutors say he was set up to be framed as an intruder.

According to Magalhães, on the morning of February 24, 2023, Banfield shot Ryan in the head, then stabbed Christine repeatedly in the neck while their 4-year-old daughter waited in the basement. Magalhães testified she shot Ryan a second time at Banfield's direction.

The defense pushed back hard, telling jurors that digital forensics show Christine was the one communicating with Ryan — and that investigators who supported that finding were transferred or reassigned. Defense attorney John Carroll accused prosecutors of using Magalhães's vulnerable position as an immigrant to flip her against his client.

Prosecutors say the blood evidence will prove Banfield's guilt. The defense says the catfishing theory was built on lies.

Banfield has pleaded not guilty to four counts of aggravated murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, felony child abuse, and felony child cruelty. If convicted on all counts, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 13 additional years. The trial is expected to last four weeks.

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