I have spent my career at the intersection of law and public discourse as a strategic translator for the issues that define our era. Whether I’m serving as a neutral mediating an employment or Title IX case for clients or hosting my Legal Lens radio show and podcast, my mission to help people educate and enlighten themselves on the legal issues that impact their everyday lives never changes.
We were thrilled to welcome back a powerhouse in the legal community to the Legal Lens Podcast: Media Legal Analyst Sunny Slaughter. As a veteran litigation consultant, Sunnetta “Sunny” Slaughter is a face you likely recognize from her frequent appearances on Court TV, CNN, Law & Crime and other networks.
Sunny’s unique ability to dissect the intersection of law enforcement, criminal psychology, and the law makes her an indispensable voice in today’s legal landscape. In this riveting episode, we caught up with Sunny just as the verdict was delivered in the high-profile “Au Pair” murder trial. We explored how current legal language fails victims and how Sunny is working to reform the system through her revolutionary frameworks: DVMAC and the VEIL. Learn more below:
The Legal Lens: Key Moments with Sunny Slaughter
- 00:00 – Introduction of Sunny Slaughter and her recent work on Court TV.
- 04:54 – Why we must stop using the term “crimes of passion.”
- 08:12 – Breaking down the “Au Pair” murder trial and Brendan Banfield verdict.
- 11:15 – Explaining DV MAC: Domestic Violence Murder by Ambush and Conspiracy.
- 20:58 – The psychology of narcissism and “The VEIL.”
- 25:20 – The need for legal enhancements for offenders with law enforcement backgrounds.
- 27:27 – The impact of heavy trials on the mental health of jurors.
- 32:45 – Celebrating Black History Month and the universal impact of justice.
Sunny Slaughter on the Danger of Crimes of Passion
For decades, the legal system and the media have used the phrase “crimes of passion” to describe homicides stemming from intimate relationships. Sunny Slaughter argues that this language is not only outdated but dangerous. Passion implies something positive or driven by love, yet there is nothing romantic about the heinous violence witnessed in these cases.
“There is nothing passionate about murder. There is nothing passionate about the heinousness of what we are seeing in courts… I think we are missing the mark when we use language that sounds [positive]… there’s nothing comforting about coercive control, violence, and murder.” – Sunny Slaughter
Related Article: From NYPD Police Officer, Detective and Prosecutor to Civil Rights Champion: Attorney Kawan Lovelace on Exposing the System from the Inside Out
Inside the Brendan Banfield “Au Pair” Case Verdict
The conversation took a timely turn as Sunny provided live analysis of the Brendan Banfield “Au Pair” case verdict, which had just been handed down in Virginia. Banfield, a former IRS agent, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Christine, and Joseph Ryan, a man lured into a deadly conspiracy. The case involved an affair with the family’s live-in au pair , Juliana Peres Magalhaes, and a complex ruse designed to frame an innocent man.
“This case involved… a conspiracy, which led to another man being roped into this conspiracy… to engage in what he thought was a consensual fetish encounter… [Banfield] murdered both of them… with a young child downstairs, his child downstairs, four years old as he was murdering her mother,” said Slaughter.
Defining DVMAC: Ambush and Conspiracy
To better categorize these types of calculated killings, Sunny has trademarked a new acronym: DVMAC. This stands for Domestic Violence Murder by Ambush and Conspiracy. It highlights that these aren’t spontaneous acts of “heat of the moment” anger, but rather planned executions where a partner lies in wait or collaborates with others to eliminate their spouse.
She elaborates:
“We have to name a thing what it really is. And this is domestic violence murder by ambush and conspiracy… individuals who are in intimate partner relationships are, instead of leaving the relationships… they are creating this chaos by conspiracy with another person or other people in order to get rid of the one person that they don’t wanna be with anymore.”
Lifting the “VEIL” of Narcissism
When examining the psychology of perpetrators like Brendan Banfield, Sunny introduced another critical tool: The VEIL. This stands for Victimhood Engineered as an Image to Lie and Manipulate. Many perpetrators use their social status or perceived “good guy” image to mask their coercive control and narcissistic tendencies, often portraying themselves as the real victims even while committing atrocities.
Slaughter explains the VEIL: “The VEIL, V-E-I-L, stands for victimhood engineered as an image to lie and manipulate… the psychology is the narcissism tied to the fact that they want to reign supreme in the eyes of everyone… he took the witness stand and how he talked and his entire presence… the height of arrogance.”
Sentencing Enhancements for Law Enforcement-Adjacent Offenders
A vital point Sunny raised is the need for sentencing enhancements for offenders who have backgrounds in law enforcement or the legal system.
Slaughter says that because these individuals understand how to “game the system” and have access to resources that can silence victims, their crimes represent a higher level of betrayal of public trust.
“I think that these individuals should also have enhancements on their charges… an additional five [years] for the fact that they are in a profession that allows them to have access and knowledge… to harm victims even before death in ways that most people cannot.”
Related Article: Carl Douglas: Fighting for Justice & the Rule of Law
Justice and Black History Month
Sunny reminded the audience that while high-profile cases like the Banfield trial often feature white families, domestic violence is a universal issue that transcends race, culture, and gender. She emphasized that when we consider Black History Month, we should not forget the ongoing struggle for equal protection and justice for all victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence, murder is not heightened for one race or faith or culture… it is something that is happening to everyone… One case impacts all of us in different ways, and we must acknowledge that… it takes all of us to make a difference.”
Related Podcast Episode: The Rule of Law Under Stress: Attorney Deepak Gupta on Why the U.S. Supreme Court Still Matters
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I have dedicated my career to helping litigants resolve their legal disputes through the mediation and dispute resolution process, and by helping dissect the legal issues that shape our public discourse and workplace dynamics, whether it be as a radio and podcast show host or as a legal analyst in the news. My mission as the host of the Legal Lens radio show and podcast is to empower you with objective, expert-driven insights born from years of practice at the intersection of law and society.
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Angela’s Other Work
Learn more about my book – The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic – here – https://angelareddock-wright.com/book/
Learn more about my work as an employment and Title IX mediator here Angela J. Reddock-Wright | Signature Resolution and on LinkedIn @Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Esq., AWI-CH.
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This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment or civil rights law attorney in your state or city.