Au Pair Testifying in Alleged BDSM Murder Plot Trial Says Lover Told Her ‘Divorce Was Not an Option’

The au pair in the middle of an alleged murder plot testified that her former lover was the mastermind of an alleged scheme that left his wife and a stranger dead.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes took the stand on Tuesday, Jan. 13, the first day of the trial of Brendan Banfield, who is charged with the murder of his wife, Christine Banfield, and Joseph Ryan, who authorities claim was lured to their Virginia home.

Christine was fatally stabbed in her home on Feb. 23, 2023. Ryan was shot and killed.

Brendan, who had engaged in an affair with Peres Magalhaes, is accused of spearheading a plan to kill his wife by creating a profile on Fetlife.com, a bondage website, posing as Christine.

Prosecutors alleged that he began communicating with Ryan through the site, allegedly discussing a “consensual sexual encounter involving restraints used on her, her clothing being cut off with a knife he brought, and other violent sexual role play.”

Video of Peres Magalhaes’ testimony was reported by NBC4 and livestreamed by CourtTV. She testified that Brendan began concocting the plan after saying he wanted to “get rid” of his wife.

Peres Magalhaes testified that Brendan told her “divorce was not an option” because “money was involved” and he did not want to share custody of his daughter with his wife, per NBC4.

Prosecutors previously claimed the alleged plan, in order to make it look like a home invasion, involved Brendan giving Peres Magalhaes a gun, instructing her to call Christine’s phone when Ryan entered the home and then to call him as he waited at a nearby McDonald’s.

NBC4 reported that Peres Magalhaes testified that in the leadup to the alleged murders, Brendan changed his routine so that it wouldn’t seem strange that he was at a McDonald’s.

Prosecutors claimed Brendan subsequently received the call and drove home, where he allegedly shot Ryan in the head and stabbed his wife, attempting to frame Ryan in Christine’s death. Peres Magalhaes then shot Ryan after seeing him move, authorities said.

In 2024, Peres Magalhaes pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Ryan.

NBC4 reported that Brendan has pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated murder. According to the outlet, Brendan’s attorney, John Carroll, said in court that Peres Magalhaes was only arrested to “flip her against my client.”

Peres Magalhaes’ testimony is set to continue Wednesday, Jan. 14.