Au Pair Affair Murder Trial: Watch the Verdict!

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: I understand you can be seated. Thank you. I understand we have a verdict. Are we ready for the jury? Yes, ma'am. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, just a reminder that I cannot tolerate any outbursts in the courtroom at the time of the verdict reading, please. Thank you. [00:00:30] Speaker ?: Thank you. Thank you. [00:01:30] Speaker 1: All right. And juror number nine, you were the foreperson in this case, is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. All right. And are these the verdicts of the jury? Yes, it is. And are they unanimous? Yes, it is. [00:01:42] Speaker 2: In criminal case number FE 2024-666, count one, we, the jury on the issue, join in the case of the Commonwealth of Virginia versus Brendan Robert Banfield, defendant, find the defendant guilty of aggravated murder of Joseph Ryan and Christine Banfield as part of the same act or transaction. In case number FE 2024-666, count four, we, the jury on the issue, joined in the case of the Commonwealth of Virginia versus Brendan Robert Banfield, defendant, find the defendant guilty of aggravated murder of Joseph Ryan within the same three-year period during which he did also kill and murder Christine Banfield. In case number FE 2024-666, count five, we, the jury on the issue, joined in the case of the Commonwealth of Virginia versus Brendan Robert Banfield, defendant, find the defendant guilty of using a firearm in the commission of a felony. In case number FE 2024-873, count one, we, the jury on the issue, joined in the case of the Commonwealth of Virginia versus Brendan Robert Banfield, defendant, find the defendant guilty of child endangerment. [00:03:04] Speaker 1: All right. With either side, I'd like the jury pulled. Yes, Your Honor. [00:03:08] Speaker 2: All right. Members of the jury, if this is your verdict, please answer yes. If this is not your verdict, please answer no. Juror number two. Juror number five. [00:03:19] Speaker 1: Yes. [00:03:19] Speaker 2: Juror number nine. Yes. Juror number 10. Yes. Juror number 12. Yes. Juror number 19. Yes. Juror number 22. Yes. Juror number 25. Yes. Juror number 28. Yes. Juror number 32. Yes. Juror number 34. [00:03:39] Speaker ?: Yes. [00:03:40] Speaker 2: Juror number 37. Yes. [00:03:42] Speaker 1: Thank you. The court does find that the jury verdict is unanimous at this time. Ladies and gentlemen, this completes your service in this case, and I know I speak for everybody that we thank you in this difficult case for all the time and attention you've taken to it. I do need to do it back to the jury room for one more time, and I'll be back there in a few minutes just to talk to you before you leave, okay? All right, so your excuse to the jury room. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Banville, in accordance with the jury verdict, I do find you guilty of aggravated murder on count one of 2024, 666, and also count four, 2024, 666, and count five, commission of a felony with a firearm of 2024, 666. Also, on count one of 873 of child endangerment, I do find you guilty, as found by the jury. Do you wish to have a pre-sentence investigation report, Mr. Carroll? [00:04:57] Speaker 2: Yeah, sure. [00:04:58] Speaker 1: All right, I'll order a pre-sentence investigation report for this case. What date did you want to set this for? [00:05:03] Speaker 2: I don't know what dates you would have available. [00:05:05] Speaker 1: I could set it for, do you plan to have victim impact statements, I assume, and testimony? I mean, I could put it on, well, any date before July 1st. That's it. I, I'm retired then, so let's pick, um, is April far enough for you, Mr. Carroll? [00:05:27] Speaker 2: Yeah, I may just look at my state. Sure. Would there be a particular date? [00:05:29] Speaker 1: April 17th is my sentencing day. Okay. Judge, that is the one day in April we would not... I can't do, okay. Well, we can make it a different date in April. I mean, I do have March 20th, but that might be too quick. [00:05:39] Speaker 2: Um, and April 17th doesn't work for the county? [00:05:52] Speaker 1: No, but if you don't want to go to, I mean, we could go to May 8th. I have May 8th available, or I could make it any, any Friday that you want to go to in April, if that's too far for you, Mr. Carroll. [00:06:05] Speaker 2: Um, May 8th is available, Judge. Um, it's only two weeks away from April 17th. [00:06:10] Speaker 1: Okay, May 8th? That's fine. All right, we'll set it for sentencing then on May 8th, and we have the pre-sentence investigation report by that time, and if you need it for a special time, just let me know if we need to move it from the 10 o'clock time. As soon as we've had a chance to speak with the witnesses and the victims' families. All right, anything further for this matter at this time? No, ma'am. No, ma'am. Okay, thank you all. Thank you. Thank you, Judge. [00:06:29] Speaker 2: All rise. [00:06:37] Speaker ?: Thank you.