NOT GUILTY CT - James McGrath, 17, athlete, fatally stabbed at house party fight, Shelton, May 2022 *ARREST*
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Kevin Smith will have his hands full with Raul. There are still pending charges and a whole host of civil actions...this kid needs to shut up and say a prayer of thanksgiving for what happened in court. Stuhlman said never even considered self defense ...intent was never proven and that seems reasonable....but certainly it should have been easy to convict on lessers. Some in there wanted him to be held accountable but they were not in the minority.
I saw a video with a different perspective of Smith and Valle. It was clear that Smith was in charge of the defendant by just giving a small signal and Valle moving on from the microphone. I was interested that there was a fair number of young people with him on the way out of the court but I did not see his family. Maybe I missed them? But it seems odd that his parents were not there as he walked out.
And, it seems like the state attempt to go at this again to get justice for the McGrath family and others.
From Prep school lacrosse player’s accused killer could face retrial as state files new complaint:
FIRST ON FOX: The state of Connecticut filed a criminal complaint that could lead to the retrial of the 20-year-old who was acquitted of a murder charge Wednesday in the killing of Fairfield Prep lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath, Fox News Digital has learned.
The Milford Judicial District Clerk's Office confirmed that the state is pursuing a retrial on the manslaughter charge.
"Those charges the state is pursuing in an amended information, the court ultimately is going to have to decide if that amended information can go forward or if the state has to apply for a warrant for arrest," the clerk's office said.
From Prep school lacrosse player’s accused killer could face retrial as state files new complaint:
FIRST ON FOX: The state of Connecticut filed a criminal complaint that could lead to the retrial of the 20-year-old who was acquitted of a murder charge Wednesday in the killing of Fairfield Prep lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath, Fox News Digital has learned.
The Milford Judicial District Clerk's Office confirmed that the state is pursuing a retrial on the manslaughter charge.
"Those charges the state is pursuing in an amended information, the court ultimately is going to have to decide if that amended information can go forward or if the state has to apply for a warrant for arrest," the clerk's office said.
Here's what could come next after the Raul Valle trial verdict
While the jury’s partial verdict acquitted Raul Valle in his murder trial, there could be another case brought against him. Valle, 20, stood trial, accused of killing 17-year-old Fairfield Prep student James “Jimmy” McGrath and stabbing three other people at a house party in Shelton on May 14...
www.nbcconnecticut.com
"The charges the jury were deadlocked on can be tried again if the state decides to pursue a retrial.
The jurors were deadlocked on lesser charges of manslaughter - reckless, two counts of first-degree assault -reckless, and second-degree assault - reckless."
I stumbled on a graphic showing the original charges, what were NG verdicts, and where there were a deadlocks, but of course I can't find it now.
This article gives an overview nonetheless.
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any confirmation that his family was in court? I have yet to see any info on them at all.
In video of Valle outside the courtroom leaving, I saw some older females (40s) in front of him and young men behind. Assuming they were relatives (the women), they were trying to keep him moving.
This isn't the video I saw on the news, but shows them leaving.
Has Valle spoken out?
I'm utterly confused by the juror's statement. I'm always skeptical when jurors stick to "the state didn't prove the elements" and say nothing else in their post-verdict statements. It kinda feels like not a lot of thought went into this deliberation. He also says it was proven that RV stabbed the victim and they didn't even consider self-defense!! Or perhaps this juror is not representing the jury well. I can undersatnd not finding guilty on the top charge but manslaughter/reckless conduct??? Seriously??? JMO
It's mind boggling and disturbing. Feel so bad for the McGrath family and friends. Plus all the kids who testified trusting, believing the justice system would work.
Also, I know a lot of people feel that the state shouldn't have given deals to some of the ones that testfied who were involved in the lead up to this stabbing. But it is not the jury's job to decide a case based on a fairness standard - *those others didn't get charged so why should RV pay the ultimate price* Well, RV is the only one that stabbed and killed someone that night. Prosecutors make deals with the devil all the time. If not, many horrific cases would never go to trial. This juror made a point to say they were not biased by sympathy but it seems there was sympathy towards the defendant. His testimony clearly made an impact - juror sait it was the only emotional part. Huh? There's a lot here that's left unsaid that makes me really side-eye this jury now. This reminds me of the trial of Skylar Richardson who secretly delivered and killed her newborn baby and was acquitted. This jury like the Richardson jury gave this defendant a TOTAL pass, me thinks. JMO
Completely agree. I have noticed that complaint about immunity being highlighted by many online, as if that means the defendant didn't do what he's charged with. And for sure, deals like this happen all the time, it's a way to insure the guilty person is convicted, not to falsely send an innocent person to prison. This juror also said, "There were all sorts of contradictions with witnesses testimony." which leads me to believe they can't critically think and threw out eye witness testimony in favor of Valle's, the guy who is trying to save his neck. Of course each person's testimony will be slightly different from their POV, but in total it paints a complete picture of the events. The Skylar Richardson case was super sad to me. I watched a documentary about it, at least she was charged with something though! Was it determined the baby was alive and later passed, or she committed murder?
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I suspect being really young and cute has a lot to do with this verdict as it did with Skylar Richardson. That's just my speculation, of course. I think both defendants inspire a lot of sympathy and it's hard to NOT want to give them a chance. As for Skylar, the state argued and IMO proved that the baby was alive after it was born and was killed by Skylar's actions. The jury acquitted her and she was only convicted of disposing of a dead body. It was one of the saddest cases/verdicts to me. Skylar was young and had an unloving detached mother so she was a sympathetic figure but so was that innocent, helpless baby. Jury sided with mom. JMO
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If they're going to charge for assault, the whole bunch from both schools should have been charged.Here's what could come next after the Raul Valle trial verdict
While the jury’s partial verdict acquitted Raul Valle in his murder trial, there could be another case brought against him. Valle, 20, stood trial, accused of killing 17-year-old Fairfield Prep student James “Jimmy” McGrath and stabbing three other people at a house party in Shelton on May 14...
"The charges the jury were deadlocked on can be tried again if the state decides to pursue a retrial.
The jurors were deadlocked on lesser charges of manslaughter - reckless, two counts of first-degree assault -reckless, and second-degree assault - reckless."
I stumbled on a graphic showing the original charges, what were NG verdicts, and where there were a deadlocks, but of course I can't find it now.
No and I don't think he will still has pending charges.
i was not impressed with his double talk. Never really addressed the lessers and their issues with those.
They could also add the assault by Valle at the first house--he sucker punched Heinz and head butted him with the motorcycle helmet. May as well if they're going to trial again.
Jury can say his age and tears did not impact them but it did even if they say it did not. But that might impact the higher charges with intent but how could anyone not agree on reckless unless one or more just did not want him guilty of anything...bought into smith's "whole lot of stupid" and voila a dead Jimmy and no one is accountable? Makes my blood boil this one.
Thank you, I agree with your take (on both cases). Maybe because I've recently been through raising a high school teen, I could see right through the cute, sweet face deal, and playing meek on the stand. There are always kids like him who are able to pull the wool over on adults (who want to believe the facade). The videos and evidence showed who he is and what he's capable of.
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