Day 1 of deliberations in Raul Valle’s murder trial ends without verdict
The six men and six women who make up the jury got the case just before 11 a.m. Monday after Judge Shari Murphy finished giving all her instructions.
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Deliberations in the trial of Raul “Lito” Valle, the former St. Joseph High School student accused of fatally stabbing one teenager and injuring three more, will continue Tuesday after court adjourned without a verdict Monday. Valle is charged with murder and three counts of assault for a fight at a house party in Shelton that left Jimmy McGrath, a 17-year-old standout athlete at Fairfield Prep, dead.
The six men and six women who make up the jury got the case just before 11 a.m. Monday after Judge Shari Murphy finished giving all her instructions. About two hours in, they sent a note saying they were deadlocked 11-1 on the murder charge. Murphy brought the jury back into the courtroom to address them.
“I recognize that most of you, if not all of you, have never been through this process before. There are numerous exhibits and many days of evidence to consider. I did instruct you to consider all the evidence,” Murphy said. “At this point, I simply suggest that you continue with your deliberations. You should review the evidence and the position of each juror to determine if any evidence has been overlooked or if any juror's position is misunderstood with respect to either the evidence or the law. Please continue to discuss and consider the opinions of other jurors. Kindly explain your views and listen to the views of others.”
Valle, now 20, was 16 the night of May 14, 2022, when Shelton police say he pulled a knife during a brawl outside a party on Laurel Glen Drive. Shelton High teens Ryan Heinz, Tommy Connery and Faison Teele survived their injuries and were among the 25 witnesses who testified for the prosecution.
Valle himself was the only one who took the stand for the defense. He admitted to the stabbings but said he never intended to hurt or kill anyone. During closing arguments, Attorney Kevin Smith said Valle used the knife in self-defense after he was on the ground and outnumbered with no other option to save himself.
But Senior Assistant State's Attorney Marc Durso argued that Valle came to a fistfight armed with a knife and anger, escalating things. Durso also said McGrath's stabbing came when Valle ran back into the brawl after escaping. Two witnesses told the jury McGrath wasn't part of the fight and was backing up when he took a knife to the heart.
The trial included nine days of testimony and over 100 exhibits, during which, witnesses recalled how tensions between kids from St. Joe's and Shelton High began earlier that night at another party before intensifying to the deadly violence.
Though Valle is charged with murder, two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault, the judge told jurors they can consider lesser charges if they find Valle not guilty of any of the alleged crimes. That includes the consideration of first-degree manslaughter instead of murder.
Valle turned down a plea deal to serve 40 years in prison and opted to go to trial.
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