State prosecutors have refiled prices in opposition to Raul Valle after he was acquitted of homicide by a jury final week, in keeping with paperwork despatched to NBC Connecticut by the Connecticut Judicial Department.
Valle, 20, was dealing with homicide, two counts of first-degree assault and one depend of second-degree assault.
He was discovered not responsible on all 4 counts by a jury of 12, and the courtroom declared a mistrial on the lesser prices.
Valle stood trial, accused of killing 17-year-old Fairfield Prep scholar James “Jimmy” McGrath and stabbing three different individuals at a home social gathering in Shelton on Could 14, 2022.
Prosecutors refiled prices after the decision Wednesday.
Valle is dealing with 4 lesser prices together with:
Manslaughter within the first diploma – reckless
Assault within the first diploma – reckless
Assault within the first diploma – reckless
Assault within the second diploma – reckless
Throughout Valle’s trial, the jury was “hopelessly deadlocked” in figuring out if he was responsible or not responsible of those prices.
The assault prices are related to the stabbings of Ryan Heinz, Thomas Connery Jr. and Faison Teele, respectively.
Lawyer Trent LaLima beforehand stated it’s attainable for an individual to be acquitted in a prison case then lose a civil case, which has a decrease burden of proof.
If an individual is discovered not responsible of an offense, they will’t be tried once more for that very same offense, in accordance the double jeopardy clause within the Fifth Modification of the U.S. Structure.
NBC Connecticut has reached out to Valle’s protection lawyer however has not but heard again.
A glance again on the trial
A jury Wednesday discovered Raul Valle not responsible of homicide within the Could 2022 stabbing dying of James “Jimmy” McGrath.
The deadly stabbing occurred at 43 Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton after Valle and his finest good friend Tyler DaSilva from St. Joseph Excessive Faculty acquired right into a struggle with a bunch of youngsters from Shelton Excessive Faculty, in keeping with police.
Through the trial, the state introduced in 25 witnesses, together with members of the Shelton Police Division, medical professionals who handled the victims and associates from either side of the courtroom.
The jury additionally heard from a number of individuals who have been on the social gathering, together with all three surviving victims — Ryan Heinz, Thomas Connery and Faison Teele — three adults who have been additionally teenagers on the time.
Heinz testified that he was stabbed in three elements of his physique. He obtained in depth medical therapy for his accidents, however he testified the reminiscence of the night time replays each day in his thoughts.
Connery testified that he was stabbed 4 occasions within the leg and his quadricep has everlasting harm.
Teele was stabbed within the arm, however couldn’t have stitches, in keeping with testimony from Eric Black, a doctor assistant who works at Griffin Hospital.
On the eighth day of the trial, witnesses Taylor Capela and Charlie Connery testified to seeing Valle stab McGrath.
As soon as the state rested its case, the protection known as on Valle to take the stand.
He testified that he entered the struggle at Laurel Glen Drive as a result of he needed to again up DaSilva, his childhood finest good friend.
“I saw my best friend, somebody that I love. Nobody was helping him,” Valle stated.
All through his testimony, Valle stated he didn’t know they have been heading to Laurel Glen Drive till they arrived, and the knife used was not his.
Valle testified to feeling “confused” when his schoolmate, and the motive force of the night time Jack Snyder, handed him his knife previous to the struggle.
Valle stated he positioned the knife in his pocket and admitted to utilizing it, however stated he didn’t notice he was stabbing anybody. He stated his intention was to wave it to scare off the teenagers within the struggle, but it surely didn’t work.
All through the trial, the jury realized that the state provided Snyder and DaSilva an immunity deal in change for truthful testimony.
Senior Assistant State’s Lawyer Marc Durso stated this case is about Valle, who introduced a knife, provoked a struggle and stabbed 4 youngsters, killing one. He argued that Valle did not act in self-defense and intent may be shaped inside a motion.
Valle’s protection lawyer Kevin Smith urged the jury to place sympathy apart – “sympathy for the sufferer, for the defendant, sympathy has no place right here.”
“This is what self-defense looks like. It’s chaotic, it’s messy it transpires quickly, and you don’t have to make the best decision,” Smith stated.
You’ll be able to watch video of protection from the trial on the NBC Connecticut YouTube web page.
