Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhaes pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph Ryan, who was found dead at the home where she worked for Brendan and Christine Banfield in Virginia. Christine Banfield was also found dead in the home with stab wounds. Brendan Banfield is facing charges of aggravated murder in both deaths, with his trial set for February. Peres Magalhaes faces up to 10 years in prison and her sentencing will be in March. Authorities believe that Peres Magalhaes and Brendan Banfield were having an affair and plotted to kill his wife to be together. The theory suggests that Ryan was lured to the Banfields’ home where he was killed. Peres Magalhaes and Banfield claimed Ryan attacked the au pair, leading to his shooting in self-defense. Prosecutors allege that Peres Magalhaes went to get the gun that Banfield purchased from a shooting range and shot Ryan a second time, after the first shot did not kill him. Peres Magalhaes’ plea deal downgrades the murder charge to manslaughter and drops the firearm charge. Banfield, who was not charged until recently, allegedly declined to answer questions citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a hearing. The case has been described as “horrific” and “appalling” by police.
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