Husband Testifies in Killings of Wife and Another Man

Brendan Banfield claims he did not stab his wife, but instead shot the man who did.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:15pm

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In a northern Virginia courtroom, Brendan Banfield testified that prosecutors got it wrong - he did not fatally stab his wife Christine in 2023, but instead shot the man, Joseph Ryan, who was holding a knife over his wife. Banfield said he was hoping to de-escalate the situation and did not want to shoot Ryan. However, prosecutors have been telling a different story, alleging that Banfield killed his wife and lured Ryan to the house to frame him.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complexities of domestic violence cases, where the truth can be difficult to determine and there are often conflicting accounts of what happened. The testimony from Banfield and the prosecution's key witness, the family's au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães, present starkly different narratives about the events leading up to the killings.

The details

Banfield, a former IRS law enforcement officer, is on trial for the aggravated murder of his wife Christine and Joseph Ryan. Magalhães has testified that she and Banfield created a social media account in Christine's name to lure Ryan to the house, where he was then killed. However, Banfield claims he found Ryan standing over his wife with a knife, and shot him in a panic to try to save Christine's life.

  • On the day of the killings in 2023, Banfield said he woke up, showered, and left for an important work meeting.

The players

Brendan Banfield

The defendant, a former IRS law enforcement officer, who is on trial for the aggravated murder of his wife Christine and Joseph Ryan.

Christine Banfield

Brendan Banfield's wife, who was killed in 2023.

Joseph Ryan

The man who was killed, who Banfield claims was holding a knife over his wife when Banfield shot him.

Juliana Peres Magalhães

The family's au pair and Brendan Banfield's romantic partner, who has testified against Banfield, claiming they created a social media account to lure Ryan to the house.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know that I've ever been more panicked in my life. I was hoping to de-escalate the situation. I did not want to shoot him. I wanted him to let her go.”

— Brendan Banfield, Defendant

“You are contending, again, these feelings — these very strong feelings, these 'let's be together for the rest of our lives' feelings — did not exist when your wife was alive, correct? And they certainly did not motivate you to kill your wife?”

— Jenna Sands, Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney

“Definitely not.”

— Brendan Banfield, Defendant

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Brendan Banfield out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities of domestic violence cases, where the truth can be difficult to determine and there are often conflicting accounts of what happened. The testimony from Banfield and the prosecution's key witness present starkly different narratives, raising questions about the investigation and the motives of those involved.