Au pair charged with murder shot man after employer told her to, attorney says

HERNDON, Va. (WUSA) - In Virginia, police are investigating a double murder mystery of a man and woman.

The woman was married, but not to the man who was with her. Her husband was with an au pair who admits to shooting the man but argues it was in self-defense.

The justice system is trying to iron out the tangled web of events to determine exactly what happened and who should be held accountable.

New court records show just eight months after Joseph Ryan and Christine Banfield were found murdered inside her bedroom last February, new framed photos of Christine Banfield’s husband, Brandon Banfield and their family au pair from Brazil, Juliana Peres Magalahes, could be seen in that same room.

Prosecutors say Brandon Banfield, an IRS agent, and the au pair were having an affair the year before.

On Monday, the state shared records showing the two visited a gun range two months before the incident.

Some are questioning if it was a conspiracy.

“A lot of people believe that Juliana is not guilty that she didn’t do anything and a lot of people believe that her and him were planning together,” said Thais Bilessimo, who attended the court hearing.

Officials say Ryan was in the Banfield’s home because he responded to an account for sexual fetishes.

The defense says the au pair called Brandon Banfield about an unknown car in the driveway.

When they both walked in, Brandon Banfield reportedly went to his bedroom upstairs and shot Ryan in the head out of self-defense after Ryan allegedly stabbed Christine Banfield, who prosecutors say was naked at the time.

The au pair confessed to detectives that Brandon Banfield instructed her to get a second gun in the safe in the bathroom closet. She says she fired one round through Ryan’s chest while he was still on the floor moving.

Magalahes’ attorney says Magalahes shot Ryan because Brandon Banfield told her to.

The judge says her confession is one reason why her second-degree murder charge must stay.

“Everyone just wants to know the truth,” Bilessimo said.

Brandon Banfield also took the stand on Monday but pleaded the fifth to most of the questions.

No one has been charged in Christine Banfield’s death.