"I Was Heartbroken For What I Was Doing To Brendan" — Juliana Peres Magalhaes Testifies Against Her Former Lover
"I Was Heartbroken For What I Was Doing To Brendan" — Juliana Peres Magalhaes Testifies Against Her Former Lover  
Podcast: Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary
Published On: Sun Jan 18 2026
Description: From a jail cell, Juliana Peres Magalhaes wrote to her mother that she was "heartbroken" for what she was doing to Brendan Banfield. She said she still loved him. But she wanted to go home.Now she's the prosecution's star witness — and on Day 1 of Banfield's murder trial, she delivered. Magalhaes described in graphic detail how Banfield allegedly shot Joseph Ryan in the head, then stabbed his wife Christine repeatedly in the neck while their 4-year-old daughter waited in the basement.Prosecutors allege Banfield and Magalhaes created a fake fetish website profile using Christine's identity to lure Ryan to the home for what he believed was a consensual sexual encounter. Instead, they say, he walked into an ambush.But Magalhaes spent a year in jail facing murder charges before she changed her story. Her plea deal gives her time served and a return to Brazil — but her sentencing is scheduled after Banfield's trial. That timing is deliberate. Her freedom depends on conviction.Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer has worked with cooperating witnesses throughout her career. She knows how to evaluate credibility — and she knows how prosecutors prepare a witness whose motivation is obvious. In this coverage, she examines what corroborating evidence prosecutors need, how defense attorneys will attack Juliana's credibility, and what jurors should watch for when testimony comes from someone with everything to gain.The defense argues digital forensics show Christine — not Brendan — was communicating with Ryan. They say investigators who contradicted the catfishing theory were removed from the case.Banfield faces four counts of aggravated murder. If convicted, he faces life without parole plus 13 years. The trial continues.#BrendanBanfield #JulianaPeresMagalhaes #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #AuPairMurder #JenniferCoffindaffer #HiddenKillers #MurderTrial #CooperatingWitness #TrueCrimeJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.