The State Called a Window Salesman to Prove Murder

I've watched a lot of murder trials. I've seen desperate prosecutors stretch thin evidence until it snaps. But today in Fairfax County, Virginia, I watched the Commonwealth call a window salesman to the stand to prove premeditated murder.

His name is Matthew Niederriter. He works at a window factory. His job is selling double-pane and triple-pane windows to homeowners in Northern Virginia. And today, the state put him under oath to tell a jury that Brendan Banfield soundproofed his house before stabbing his wife to death.

The theory goes like this: Brendan ordered triple-pane windows in August 2022. They were installed in December 2022. Christine Banfield was killed in February 2023. Triple-pane windows offer 30% better noise reduction than standard windows. Therefore, Brendan was planning to muffle Christine's screams.

That's the state's argument. That's what they put in front of twelve jurors.

Then Came Cross-Examination

Defense attorney John Carroll didn't need long to demolish this. In under seven minutes, he established:

The Banfield home is located near Dulles Airport flight paths. There's a fire station nearby. Seven different window companies bid on this job. The initial quote in January 2022 was for standard double-pane windows, not triple-pane. Nobody discussed noise reduction during the sales process. And here's the kicker: Niederriter doesn't even know which Banfield made the initial call to his factory.

So we have a house near an airport, a routine home improvement project that seven companies competed for, an original quote for standard windows, no discussion of soundproofing, and a salesman who can't even say whether Brendan or Christine initiated the purchase.

This is what the state brought to prove premeditated murder.

Why This Matters

I'm not telling you Brendan Banfield is innocent. I'm not telling you he's guilty. That's for the jury to decide after hearing all the evidence.

What I am telling you is this: when a prosecutor puts a window salesman on the stand to prove murder, they're building a narrative, not presenting evidence. They're asking the jury to connect dots that may not actually connect. They're hoping that "soundproof windows + dead wife = premeditation" sounds logical enough that nobody asks the obvious questions.

John Carroll asked those questions. And the answers were devastating for the state's theory.

The prosecution has stronger witnesses coming. Juliana Peres Magalhaes, the au pair who took a plea deal in exchange for her testimony, has already given damning accounts of Brendan's alleged plan. But witnesses like Niederriter are the connective tissue of circumstantial cases. They're supposed to make everything else more believable.

This one did the opposite.

▶️ WATCH THE TESTIMONY State Calls Window Salesman to Prove Defendant Soundproofed Home Before Murder

Watch the system. Question everything. And when a prosecutor calls a window salesman to prove murder, pay attention to what the defense does on cross.