Suspect In James McGrath Murder Case Found Not Guilty Of Murder, Manslaughter: Reports

SHELTON, CT — Raul Valle was found not guilty of charges of murder and intentional manslaughter, as well as intentional first and second-degree assault, after a 12-person jury returned a partial verdict Wednesday afternoon, according to media reports.

The 20-year-old Valle, who was 16 at the time of his arrest and a student at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, was accused of fatally stabbing 17-year-old James McGrath outside a home in Shelton in May 2022.

The Connecticut Post reports a jury foreperson said they were deadlocked on charges of reckless manslaughter, reckless first-degree assault and second-degree reckless assault. Prior to the verdicts being announced, more than 40 people, including McGrath's father, Kevin, crowded the courtroom.

NBC Connecticut reports a mistrial was declared by a judge on the charges the jury could not reach a decision on.

Wednesday's verdicts marked the end of nearly three days of deliberations, during which the jury had at one point informed the court they were hopelessly deadlocked on the murder charge and unable to reach a unanimous decision on other charges, according to NBC Connecticut.

Deliberations by a jury of six men and six women began Monday after days of testimony in the case, according to the Shelton Herald. A judge began issuing instructions to the jury Thursday following closing arguments but later adjourned the day’s proceedings and finished issuing them Monday.

The case dates back to 2022 when the the Shelton community was first rocked by the death of McGrath, a 17-year-old Shelton resident who attended Fairfield College Preparatory School.

According to an arrest warrant application, McGrath was stabbed outside a house party with over 50 teens in attendance on Laurel Glen Drive late on May 14, 2022.

Valle was arrested days after the incident and later released after posting a $2 million bond.

He had been charged with murder, as well as two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault, leading up to the trial, according to the state's judicial database.

In November 2023, Valle rejected a plea deal that would have called for him to serve 40 years in prison and did not make a counter-offer. At that time, his lawyer told the media his client was innocent and wanted a trial.

See also: Parents Of James McGrath Say They Will 'Never' Forgive Ahead Of Murder Trial: Report

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A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Valle and other defendants by Kevin McGrath, acting as administrator of his son's estate, in May 2024.

After McGrath's death, his parents and sister, Rosie, established The Jimmy McGrath Foundation in his honor as a way of promoting mental and physical wellness for local youths while "instilling in them a profound appreciation for the value of a human life," according to the organization's website.

The third annual Jimmy McGrath Foundation Golf Tournament was held in June at Smith Richardson Golf Club in Fairfield, according to the website.