Brazilian au pair gets 10-year sentence for killing man in murder plot against lover's wife

Brazilian au pair gets 10-year sentence for killing man in murder plot against lover's wife

An au pair who schemed with her employer-turned-lover to kill his wife and another man received a 10-year prison sentence in the US on Friday.

Prosecutors had recommended Juliana Peres Magalhães walk free after she pleaded guilty to a downgraded manslaughter charge in the February 2023 killing of Joseph Ryan.

Instead of being tried for second-degree murder, she became their star witness, testifying that she had fatally shot Ryan as Virginia man Brendan Banfield was fatally stabbing his wife, Christine, in the couple’s bedroom.

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Juliana Peres Magalhães testifies during the double murder trial for Brendan Banfield in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)

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Brendan Banfield was convicted by a jury this month of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife and Ryan.

“I know my remorse cannot bring you peace,” Magalhães told the victims' families on Friday, wiping away tears and muffling sobs.

“I hope you can someday understand that I really did not believe his plan would actually happen.”

Instead of sentencing her to time served, Judge Penney Azcarate delivered the maximum possible sentence to the woman from Brazil.

"Let’s get it straight: You do not deserve anything other than incarceration and a life of reflection on what you have done to the victim and his family. May it weigh heavily on your soul,” the judge said.

At Banfield's trial, Magalhães testified that she and the IRS agent created an account in the name of his wife, a paediatric intensive care nurse, on a social media platform for people interested in sexual fetishes.

Ryan connected with the account and agreed to meet for a sexual encounter involving a knife.

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Brendan Banfield testifies during his double murder trial in Fairfax County Circuit Court, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Fairfax, Va. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner, Pool)

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Magalhães, then 22, said she and Brendan Banfield took the couple’s four-year-old child to the basement, and then found Ryan surprising Christine Banfield with a knife in the couple's bedroom.

She said Brendan Banfield shot Ryan and then began stabbing his wife in the neck.

When she saw Ryan moving, Magalhães said, she fired the second shot that killed him.

The au pair wasn’t arrested until eight months later, and hasn't left jail since.

Prosecutors raised concerns that if she were to be allowed bail, she would flee to Brazil or be deported by immigration officials before they could finish their case.

She didn’t talk with investigators for more than a year, until she changed her mind as her trial date approached.

“I lost myself in a relationship, and left my morals and values behind,” Magalhães told the judge.

“You were texting and speaking to Joseph Ryan, encouraging him to bring a knife and ultimately, through the phone conversation, getting his consent, knowing all along you were bringing him to his death,” the judge responded.

Ryan's mother, Deirdre Fisher, told the court that her son, born days before Christmas, was her “greatest gift.”

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Magalhães was delivered the maximum possible sentence.

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Three years after his killing, she can’t bear taking down their Christmas tree.

An urn with Ryan’s ashes sits in front of the decoration.

“I say good morning to him each day when I turn on the tree’s lights,” she said.

“But of course that’s not Joe sitting there. He can’t say ‘I love you’ back.”

Sangeeta Ryan described her nephew as “inquisitive, curious, smart, charming and so dang talkative.”

She said he loved martial arts and role-playing with his friends.

She also noted that he had moved in with his octogenarian grandmother to care for her.

“His sudden murder devastated his grandma, she could no longer live in the family home without Joe,” his aunt said.

The woman quietly moved away, hoping to avoid her memories and the reporters knocking at the door.

Christine Banfield's relatives attended Friday's hearing.

A judge has said Banfield will be sentenced in May.

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'Priceless' Egyptian artifacts stolen in Queensland museum heist

'Priceless' Egyptian artifacts stolen in Queensland museum heist

"Priceless" Egyptian artifacts have been stolen from a Queensland museum, police said.

A man smashed a window of Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture in Moreton Bay near Brisbane around 3am this morning and made off with the treasures.

The museum said on Facebook it was"devastated to advise that the Museum was broken into last night, and several of our precious Egyptian artefacts have been taken."

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"Priceless" Egyptian artifacts have been stolen from a Queensland museum, police said."Priceless" Egyptian artifacts have been stolen from a Queensland museum, police said.

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"We are working closely with Queensland Police Service in the hopes to retrieve our objects" it said.

The museum is described as "a treasure trove of world history that engages young and old."

It says its Egypt collections include predynastic stone tools and pottery, Dynastic amulets, jewellery, figurines, painted panels and ceramics, as well as a "wonderful gilt cartonnage mask".

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"Priceless" Egyptian artifacts have been stolen from a Queensland museum, police said.

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That was among the items stolen, alongside jewellery and a statue.

Cartonnage is a type of material used in ancient Egyptian funeral masks.

"Initial investigations indicate at approximately 3am, a man smashed a window of The Abbey Place property and took a quantity of priceless Egyptian artifacts before leaving the scene," Queensland Police said.

Police are appealing for information.

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Chilling images from Nancy Guthrie's porch could hold valuable clues

Chilling images from Nancy Guthrie's porch could hold valuable clues

The chilling videos of a masked man outside Nancy Guthrie’s home in Arizona before she vanished show just glimpses of the suspect, but for investigators they hold a mountain of clues.

And those images, from the suspect's gloves to his flashlight, could be what's needed to break the case.

“There’s a tremendous amount of information that this guy left,” said former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt.

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This combo from images provided by the FBI shows surveillance footage at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missing in Tucson, Ariz. (FBI via AP)

The FBI already has analysed the videos from Guthrie's doorbell camera to identify the suspect's backpack, posting an alert on Thursday with a photo of the brand and model in hopes of narrowing down tips flooding the agency.

It has been nearly two weeks since the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie was believed to have been abducted.

Former criminal investigators say it's almost certain that authorities are building a physical and psychological profile of the suspect, using the footage released publicly on Tuesday that totals less than a minute.

Whether authorities recovered more footage isn't known, but technology will allow them to see more than meets the eye.

“Every single thing that is in the video is being digitally enhanced. Everything from the mask to backpack to the jacket,” said Ed Davis, the former Boston police commissioner during the marathon bombing and manhunt in 2013.

Here's what was captured in the footage and what clues each might yield:

The backpack

It probably didn't take long to pinpoint the type of backpack the suspect was wearing, Davis said.

Technology available today allows investigators to break down photos and videos to the pixel, he said, giving them images of the stitching and maybe the manufacturer or brand name.

The FBI described the backpack as a black, 25-litre “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.”

The holster

The FBI says the man on Nancy Guthrie's porch was armed.

But the video shows he had an unusual holster setup, hanging over the middle of his waist and not on the side. It might be an indication that whoever it was has little experience with firearms.

“I've never seen anything like that,” Davis said.

The gloves

The footage gives a close-up view of the suspect trying to cover Guthrie's doorbell camera, first with a gloved hand and then with part of a plant ripped from the yard.

The black gloves appear to be thicker than most and shimmered in the light.

“I spend a lot of time in Home Depot, and I've never seen those gloves,” Davis said. “They're not very common.”

The clothes

The suspect's zip-up jacket, pants, shoes and mask don't immediately stand out. But identifying one or more of those items could be a key.

Because once that happens, investigators can start looking at where those items are sold and combing through receipts and store surveillance cameras, starting with stores in the Tucson area closest to Guthrie's home, said Van Zandt, who spent 25 years with the FBI.

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Law enforcement agents check vegetation areas around Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona.

Going through mounds of receipts and footage will take time and isn't something that would be done on most cases, but there's no shortage of people assigned to this one, he said. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department earlier this week said several hundred detective and agents have been assigned to the case.

“If all of the stars line up properly — and they rarely do — I find someone who was in there two weeks prior who bought the jacket, the shoes, the backpack all at the same time,” Van Zandt said.

The torch

In one of the videos, the suspect appeared to be holding a small torchin his mouth while in front of Guthrie's door.

Figuring out the type of torch might be difficult, but there's something else to look at there, said David Lyons, a former homicide detective and police commander in Lexington, Kentucky.

Not many people instinctively hold a torchin their mouth, but those who work in the trades might — such as an electrician or a plumber, he said.

“That’s a small thing,” he said.

“But at the same time, down the road, it could be something.”

The movements

Every step and movement the suspect made on the porch is worth a close look — from the way he walked, to how he seemed unhurried and how he grabbed the plant from the yard, Lyons said.

All of that will likely be used by behavioral analysts to create a profile of the suspect, he said.

“That’s what this will come down to,” Lyons said.

“Those small aspects added all together.”

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Teen pedestrian struck by truck on NSW highway dies

Teen pedestrian struck by truck on NSW highway dies

A teenager walking on a highway south of Sydney died this morning when he was allegedly hit by a truck.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of the Hume Highway and Golden Vale Road, at Sutton Forest about 5am over reports of a crash.

Police say the pedestrian- aged in his late teens - was struck by the vehicle as he entered the roadway.

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Paramedics treated him, but he could not be revived and died at the scene.

He is yet to be formally identified.

The truck driver – a 48-year-old man – was not injured and taken to Bowral Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police have set up a crime scene which will be forensically examined by officers.

Traffic diversions are in place, and motorists are advised to avoid the area.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Mystery gloves found in search for Nancy Guthrie: reports

Mystery gloves found in search for Nancy Guthrie: reports

Authorities in the south-western United States searching for Nancy Guthrie have reportedly found a pair of mystery black gloves in a potential new lead.

The missing 84-year-old mother of US TV anchor Savannah Guthrie was believed to have been abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona 12 days ago.

Video from the New York Post on Thursday (Friday AEDT) shows investigators picking up one of the gloves from the side of a road, reportedly about three kilometres from Nancy's home.

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Eleven days after Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona home, new evidence and videos should be bringing authorities closer to finding the 84-year-old.

Reporter Georgia Worrell said she and the photographer working with her saw a black object on the side of the road, and as they got closer, they thought it might be a glove.

"It had just been discarded on the side of the road," Worrell told CNN.

It wasn't until after they were able to see the photographer's high-resolution photos that they confirmed it was a glove.

The item was bagged as evidence, Worrell said.

It is not clear whether authorities believe it to be the same glove worn by the person seen in doorbell camera footage outside Guthrie's home on the night she went missing, released by the FBI.

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Former FBI special agent Andy Black, who was stationed in Tucson, said DNA testing of the glove would be crucial for the investigation.

"They're going to look to see if they get any type evidence on those gloves. That ties it to the residence," he told Today this morning.

"It could be blood from Nancy Guthrie. and that opens up the door for get from those DNA ... This could be a break in the case."

Guthrie was last seen at her home in Tucson on January 31, and since then law enforcement agencies have received numerous leads.

On Thursday, a white tent was put in place directly outside the front door of the property before being taken down shortly afterwards.

Investigators were also seen packing up a large black case along with other items they had brought into the home.

- With CNN

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One state driving the biggest spike in first home buyer loans in years

One state driving the biggest spike in first home buyer loans in years

Applications for first home buyer loans rose by nearly seven per cent in Australia, the sharpest rise since 2023, according to new data.

A new five per cent deposit scheme and the federal government's Help to Buy scheme saw nearly 32,000 first home buyer loans in the December quarter, the largest rise since 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This also saw their value increase by 15.5 per cent.

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More people are dipping their toes into the housing market.

Head of finance stats at the ABS, Dr Mish Tan, said buyers in one state were driving the changes.

"The size of the average first home buyer loan rose by a record 8.5 per cent to $607,624 this quarter and was largely driven by first home buyers in NSW," he said.

"The Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme has increased the eligibility criteria for first home buyers and we are seeing the early effects of this in our data."

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An auction sign outside a Sydney house.

First home buyer loans in New South Wales grew by nearly 11 per cent, with Western Australia and Queensland also having rises of 9.8 per cent and 6.4 per cent respectively.

The only state that saw falls in this area was Tasmania, with first home buyer loan applications dropping by 1.9 per cent.

There were also over 60,000 new investment loans approved in the same time frame, a rise of 5.5 per cent compared to the last quarter and a 23.6 per cent rise compared to the same time period last year.

The total value of these loans was $43 billion, a rise of $3.2 billion.

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Police seek man over alleged hoax calls to lifeguards

Police seek man over alleged hoax calls to lifeguards

Police want to speak with an unidentified man over alleged prank calls made to lifeguards from a south-east Queensland beach.

Officers are investigating hoax reports last month of a person swept out to sea at Wurtulla Beach on the Sunshine Coast last month which triggered a search.

Events began about 2.40am on January 10 when a man phoned authorities from Surf Life Saving Queensland's 24-hour emergency phone at Beach Access 248 off Oceanic Drive to report a missing person.

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Lifeguards and police went to the beach and searched the area, but no one was found.

Two days later another call was made to authorities about 3am, and a subsequent search again failed to find anyone.

Police today released CCTV photos of a man they believe may be able to help with inquiries.

Anyone with information should contact Policelink

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Audio of 'extraordinary' boy's Triple Zero call after 4km swim

Audio of 'extraordinary' boy's Triple Zero call after 4km swim

Sounding cool, calm, and collected, at first blush you wouldn't think Austin Appelbee was in desperate fear for his family's lives.

The 13-year-old boy made headlines for his heroism after he swam four kilometres in the ocean to get help for his stranded family in Geographe Bay, near Quindalup in Western Australia.

Now, with permission from Austin's mother Joanne state police have taken the very unusual step of releasing the audio of the Triple Zero phone call Austin made when he at last reached the shore.

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Austin Appelbee

The family, including Austin's mother Joanne, his brother Beau, 12, and sister Grace, 8, had been swept out to sea while kayaking and paddle-boarding in rough conditions on January 30.

As the light faded, Austin said his mother asked him to turn back and try to find help on shore.

Austin first had to abandon his kayak when it began taking on water, then took off his life jacket when it interfered with his swimming.

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Joanne + Austin Appelbee - 13yo praised for efforts swimming 4km out to sea to save his family Today Show February 4, 2025

After his 4km race back to shore, he then ran a further 2km to find a phone and call Triple Zero at about 6pm.

"My name's Austin and I'm outside on the beach," the audio begins.

"I have two siblings, Beau and Grace. Beau is 12 and Grace is eight. We went on a kayak trip and a paddleboard trip, and we got out to sea and we got lost out there and it - we got lost around about, I don't know what time it was but it was a very long time ago.

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The family came into trouble while kayaking and paddleboarding at Geographe Bay on Friday.

"We couldn't get back to shore and mum told me to go back to get help. And then, I haven't seen them since. I think they're kilometres out in the sea.

"I think we need a helicopter to find them. I'm sitting on the beach right now and I have to explain, I think I need an ambulance because I think I have hypothermia."

Despite his desperate worry over his family, Austin continued to speak with clarity and calm to the emergency operator as they asked more about the situation.

"I don't know what their condition is right now and I'm really scared," he said.

"I had a kayak and then the kayak had a bunch of water in it and started to sink.

I had to swim around about 4km facing the current. I'm extremely tired, I've got heatstroke, and I feel like i'm going to pass out, I'm very dizzy."

He went on to give the time they'd started their ocean trip, and that he couldn't see them from the shore.

The recording stops after Austin says he's been onshore for only 10 minutes.

Austin's family were found at about 8.30pm, clinging to a paddleboard, and they were brought in safely.

Police have praised Austin's cool head during his Triple Zero call as crucial to the massive rescue operation.

"What Austin did was nothing short of extraordinary," Forward Commander Acting Sergeant Andrew McDonnell, who coordinated the rescue, said.

"His bravery and courage in those conditions were remarkable, and his actions were pivotal in bringing about a successful outcome."

You can listen to the audio of the call in full in the player above. WA Police officers also discuss it in their new podcast "Operation Podcast", available on Apple and Spotify.

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Football fan's 500 day-long wait for a haircut continues despite late equaliser

Football fan's 500 day-long wait for a haircut continues despite late equaliser

While all football fans want their team to win every game, one Manchester United fan had extra reason to be hoping for a win this morning.

Frank Ilett, better known by his social media moniker The United Strand, has gained fame in football circles for refusing to give himself a haircut until his beloved Red Devils win five games in a row.

Illet made the pledge on October 5, 2024, but Manchester United's failure to live up to their end of the bargain means it has been nearly 500 days since he has been able to get a trim.

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Frank Illet's afro has become iconic in football circles, as he refuses to cut his hair until Manchester United win five games in a row.

He has gained a large following and notoriety on social media in the last year and a half, garnering 1.3 million followers on Instagram as he shares regular updates about his hair growth.

His unruly locks, a significant change from his previous hairstyle, has now become famous, but it could soon be a thing of the past.

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Frank Ilett's hair before he made the pledge based on Manchester United's form.

Manchester United have finally found some good form, four games in a row in all competitions.

That meant there was a massive chance Illet's wait would end if they could beat relegation battlers West Ham United this morning.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected after the team's draw in the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Such was the anticipation of the drought potentially breaking, Ilett even live streamed a watch along for the game.

However, the drought was not broken, as Manchester United could only salvage a 1-1 draw late on thanks to a stoppage time goal from Benjamin Sesko, having been trailing for much of the second half at the London Stadium.

This means the clock resets, and Ilett's wait for a trim will extend well over 500 days. Given Manchester United's inconsistencies, it could even span into the two year mark.

Ilett has said when the time finally comes to shave off his iconic hair do, he will donate the hair to charity.

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Ex-cyclone Mitchell crosses WA coast amid flood warnings

Ex-cyclone Mitchell crosses WA coast amid flood warnings

Ex-cyclone Mitchell made landfall as a tropical low system in Western Australia overnight, but weather warnings remain in place.

The category 2 storm weakened enough to lose cyclone status before it crossed the coast at 1am at Shark Bay, about 15km south of Wooramel Roadhouse.

Before making landfall, the storm brought heavy rain and damaging winds to that region of Western Australia, with gusts of 107km/hr at Carnarvon, and of 85km/hr at Shark Bay yesterday, the Bureau of Meteorology's Sarah Scully said.

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Since 9am yesterday, 132mm of rain had been recorded at Gascoyne Junction, and 104mm at Shark Bay.

The Kimberleys also continued to cop a soaking, with 122mm recorded at Mount Winifred.

More heavy rain and strong winds are expected in the region today, with a severe weather warning in place for the Central West, Central Wheat Belt, and parts of the Gascoyne district.

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https://x.com/BOM_WA/status/2020973394565415108

Falls of about 50mm to 80mm in 24 hours are expected, with isolated totals of 120mm forecast.

Wind gusts could reach 90km/hr this morning, but are expected to ease into the afternoon, Scully said.

The Bureau's weather warning also said flash flooding was expected, with people urged to avoid driving through floodwaters.

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