Raul Valle, accused of stabbing Fairfield, Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James “Jimmy” McGrath to death in March 2022, has been found not guilty on murder and intentional manslaughter charges.
Valle was also acquitted of first- and second-degree intentional assault. The jury was deadlocked on charges of first-degree reckless manslaughter and first- and second-degree reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those deadlocked charges.
Valle, now 20, was tearful during an emotional reaction to the verdict. He was 16 when McGrath, 17, was stabbed to death.
McGrath, a student at Fairfield Prep, was killed after a booze-fueled teenage brawl following a house party.
The jury was deadlocked at 11-1 on Monday and Tuesday before deliberations continued Wednesday morning, as NBC Connecticut reported. Valle testified during the trial, claiming the stabbing was self-defense.
“I think those stories are very compelling for jurors. I think jurors really try to get it right,” Donna Rotunno, criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “Obviously, there are some cases where maybe that analysis doesn’t fit or somebody makes the claim of self-defense [and] it doesn’t make sense under the law. But … given the way this jury has been out now for a couple of days, and they’re clearly deadlocked … [defense attorneys] have made a compelling argument to at least one or some.”
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Author: Dillon B
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