NOT GUILTY CT - James McGrath, 17, athlete, fatally stabbed at house party fight, Shelton, May 2022 *ARREST*

[Seattle1]

MOO, If I had to sum up the public sentiment I've been reading since the case went to the jurors, it seems somewhat along these lines-- and perhaps why the jurors are deadlocked:

G verdict: a push for some kind of justice. Just wants someone held accountable.

NG verdict: best reflects the facts & evidence. 1st degree murder was the wrong charge, and that’s on the State— not the jury.

Poor Jimmy. He deserves better.

 

[LAborn]

MOO, If I had to sum up the public sentiment I've been reading since the case went to the jurors, it seems somewhat along these lines-- and perhaps why the jurors are deadlocked:

G verdict: a push for some kind of justice. Just wants someone held accountable.

NG verdict: best reflects the facts & evidence. 1st degree murder was the wrong charge, and that’s on the State— not the jury.

Poor Jimmy. He deserves better.

I couldn't disagree more. To me the evidence and law support the charges and the proper conviction would be guilty on all counts. On the most serious charge, the fight had ended, Valle was in the street by the car, then RETURNED, while the kids were retreating, Valle lunged and stabbed Jimmy squarely in the chest puncturing his heart, causing his death. There is ZERO defense for self-defense. He was safely AWAY from whatever he perceived as a threat, and RETURNED to kill Jimmy. It's as clear as day. I don't know what's propelling the NG crowd, and won't speculate.

The DA already outlined the law--you can't escalate force--you can't use a knife against fists. He said, had the other boys had weapons, this would be a different case. But it's not the case.

From watching all the testimony, Valle was hell bent on violence from beginning to end. That's just a fact. All the witness testimony supports that.

 

[Magic8Ball]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1942693261786898605

I understand a deadlock on all the assault charges.

I don't understand being unable to reach a guilty verdict for JM's death.

I have to believe it's because of the horrible job this prosecution team did.
They just did not do their main victim, JM, justice.

This obnoxious lead prosecutor thought it was more important to spend hour upon hour focusing on the fights that night at the two houses rather than focusing on RV's stabbing of JM, which JM did nothing at all to provoke.

The State needed more than their endless parade of smirking "I don't recall despite only having one beer the entire night" witnesses taking the stand to prove their case BARD.

JMO.

 

[Seattle1]

Jury in Raul Valle’s murder trial deadlocked, asks to rehear part of defendant’s testimony

Day 2 of deliberations began with Judge Shari Murphy addressing a note she received from the jury at 4:45 p.m. Monday as court was about to adjourn.

connecticut.news12.com

7/8/25

If the jury acquits Valle of any of the charges, they can consider lesser charges including first-degree manslaughter rather than murder.

Deliberations continue Wednesday morning at Milford Superior Court.

 

[LAborn]

Jury in Raul Valle’s murder trial deadlocked, asks to rehear part of defendant’s testimony

Day 2 of deliberations began with Judge Shari Murphy addressing a note she received from the jury at 4:45 p.m. Monday as court was about to adjourn.

connecticut.news12.com

7/8/25

If the jury acquits Valle of any of the charges, they can consider lesser charges including first-degree manslaughter rather than murder.

Deliberations continue Wednesday morning at Milford Superior Court.

Thanks, Seattle. Would that mean a new trial or change of charge within this one? Sorry, not savvy with the law.

 

[turaj]

Thanks, Seattle. Would that mean a new trial or change of charge within this one? Sorry, not savvy with the law.

per 2 notes early on deadlocked on all charges...then late yesterday asked to see video replay including Valle testimony on DeSilva's location. Valle is using self defense and said he was so very concerned for his "best friend" and yet seems friend was in no immediate danger. I thought that request meant one or more are for self defense and others trying to change minds? Anyway nothing yet today.

 

[Weki]

It really annoys me when juror are deadlocked! Ugh!

 

[Seattle1]

Thanks, Seattle. Would that mean a new trial or change of charge within this one? Sorry, not savvy with the law.

It's not been clear to me whether or not the jurors needed permission from the Court to consider a lesser charge, but News12 is reporting that if they acquit on murder, then they can consider the lesser. Unfortunately, this would not apply to a deadlocked jury-- which typically results in a mistrial. Here, I think this comes after a "Chip Smith Charge" is given to the jurors-- with no results. MOO

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It's not been clear to me whether or not the jurors needed permission from the Court to consider a lesser charge, but News12 is reporting that if they acquit on murder, then they can consider the lesser. Unfortunately, this would not apply to a deadlocked jury-- which typically results in a mistrial. Here, I think this comes after a "Chip Smith Charge" is given to the jurors-- with no results. MOO

I think that murder is an overcharge and likely why the jury is struggling. I never like to bring up Casey Anthony but a lesser charge (and the subsequent changes in strategy) might have allowed the jury to get past the parents and their shenanigans and lies. Letting the other people involved off as prosecution witnesses might have also left a sense of unfairness.

 

[turaj]

It really annoys me when juror are deadlocked! Ugh!

this happened after what? 2 hours? Then again after 5? With the first note I was thinking we must have one real controller in there that will not listen to any arguments. It was 11-1 and personally I think that was 11 Guilty.

 

[turaj]

It's not been clear to me whether or not the jurors needed permission from the Court to consider a lesser charge, but News12 is reporting that if they acquit on murder, then they can consider the lesser. Unfortunately, this would not apply to a deadlocked jury-- which typically results in a mistrial. Here, I think this comes after a "Chip Smith Charge" is given to the jurors-- with no results. MOO

The judge said that next indication of deadlock she is giving this "chip smith " charge aka Allen Charge. I thought we would have that by now so I think they are working on a compromise on lesser.

 

[turaj]

I think that murder is an overcharge and likely why the jury is struggling. I never like to bring up Casey Anthony but a lesser charge (and the subsequent changes in strategy) might have allowed the jury to get past the parents and their shenanigans and lies. Letting the other people involved off as prosecution witnesses might have also left a sense of unfairness.

I don't think he "intended" to kill anyone but a reasonable 16 year old would be able to know that stabbing people randomly has that possibility. I dismiss the self defense as he had multiple chances to leave. The video play back shows they are now considering self defense.

 

[LAborn]

I think that murder is an overcharge and likely why the jury is struggling. I never like to bring up Casey Anthony but a lesser charge (and the subsequent changes in strategy) might have allowed the jury to get past the parents and their shenanigans and lies. Letting the other people involved off as prosecution witnesses might have also left a sense of unfairness.

I've sadly been thinking about the Casey Anthony case too. On the immunity for Jack and Dasilva, they were never charged, and the DA said during the trial that they approached LE six months after the assault/murder with what they had. Why would an immunity agreement even be necessary at that late stage, especially since they weren't under arrest or suspicion of being involved? Thanks for the conversation!

 

[MassGuy]

Partial verdict, here we go.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

I don't think he "intended" to kill anyone but a reasonable 16 year old would be able to know that stabbing people randomly has that possibility. I dismiss the self defense as he had multiple chances to leave. The video play back shows they are now considering self defense.

He had been drinking. And teenage kids in a big group are not the same as an individual kid. If Raul's friend hadn't handed him a knife, we wouldn't be here. If he had thought about what a bad idea the knife was, we wouldn't be here.

 

[Leilei]

All NG's so far.
IMO.

 

[MassGuy]

Welp, smart of him to roll the dice on the 40 year plea deal.

 

[Seattle1]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1943002895957250082

 

[Magic8Ball]

Partial verdict, here we go.

I saw these NG verdicts for the assault charges coming from a mile away. It's how I would have voted if I was on that jury.

It's unfortunate that they hung on the murder charge.

The Shelton gang made terrible witnesses. Not at all likeable, even less credible.

It was the worst prosecution of a case I've seen since the OJ case.

This lead prosecutor should be fired.

I'm so sorry for JM and his parents. They need to refile charges r/t his death and assign a new prosecutor to the case.

JMO.

 

[LAborn]

My take away. Your kids aren't safe at high school parties, and perps get off scott-free. I can't even imagine how all the victims feel after this. Supposedly adults teach doing the right thing, and this happens. Not justice.