A judge denied a motion from Raul Valle on Friday to dismiss the remaining charges against him in the death of Jimmy McGrath.
Judge Kevin Russo heard arguments last month on whether or not the Milford man could be retried for the fatal stabbing of McGrath.
In July 2025, a judge acquitted Valle of murder, intentional manslaughter and intentional assault for a fight that occurred at a Shelton house party, where three people were injured. McGrath died.
However, jurors were deadlocked on the lesser charges, including reckless manslaughter and reckless assault, which the state refiled and is pursuing again.
Russo denied Valle's argument that a new trial on the lesser charges would amount to double jeopardy.
Valle's lawyer, Darnell D. Crosland, responded to the motion.
"It is very difficult for me to respect a decision that I strongly disagree with, and I believe this
ruling gets the law wrong. I intend to appeal it immediately to the Connecticut Appellate Court," Crosland stated.
"This court did exactly what the Supreme Court has said courts are not allowed to do: guess at
what a jury was really thinking to explain away a not-guilty verdict. A jury’s acquittal does not
have to be explained. It does not have to be justified. It stands."
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