Brendan Banfield took the stand this week in his highly publicized murder trial. He is accused of killing his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors have claimed that Banfield and the family’s au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, were having an affair and came up with a plan to “get rid of” Christine.
Magalhães, who testified earlier in the trial, said the plan involved setting up a fake account on a sexual fetish website in Christine’s name to lure Ryan to the home. She said the two shot Ryan and Banfield stabbed his wife, staging the scene to make it look like Ryan was an intruder who stabbed Christine.
Banfield’s Testimony
Banfield denied these claims when he took the stand Wednesday and Thursday. “I think that it’s an absurd line of questioning for something that is not serious, that a plan was made to get rid of my wife,” he testified. “That is absolutely crazy.”
He testified that he came home when Magalhães told him she saw a man enter the home. He said he entered through the basement and saw Ryan holding a knife to Christine, who was naked on the floor.
Banfield testified that he drew his service weapon and told Ryan to drop the knife. He shot Ryan when he saw the other man do a “downward stabbing stroke.” Then Magalhães shot Ryan with Banfield’s other firearm, he testified.
Banfield said that Christine told him she was bleeding out, and that “she was sorry and she loved me.” Prosecutors questioned whether, with the seven stab wounds she suffered in her neck, Christine would have been able to speak.
Banfield also told the court that both he and his wife had affairs throughout their 19-year relationship, but that they intended to stay together. He said that Magalhães had been the one to initiate the affair with him.
Closing arguments began in the case on Friday morning. If convicted, Banfield could face life in prison.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
