Accused killer Raul “Lito” Valle took the stand in his own defense late Monday on what was the eighth day of his trial in the deadly stabbing of Fairfield Prep athlete Jimmy McGrath. Valle is charged with murder and three counts of assault, accused of stabbing four teenagers outside a house party in Shelton the night of May 14, 2022.

Court ended for the day before Valle testified about the fight on Laurel Glen Drive, but he told the jury his mindset just before it broke out.

“How were you feeling at this point?" asked Valle’s attorney Kevin Smith.

"Nervous," Valle responded.

“Why were you feeling nervous?” Smith continued.

“Because there were a lot of people just surrounding me,” Valle answered.

Valle began his testimony taking the jury through the events that led to the deadly brawl beginning with an earlier confrontation at a different Shelton party on Lazy Brook Road. Valle denied being part of that scuffle, as numerous witnesses stated, and claimed he helped break it up.

Valle also said that later that night, while in his friend’s SUV with other St. Joseph High School teens, he initially thought they were heading to a party in Trumbull but then learned their destination was the house on Laurel Glen Drive.

Valle described how when they pulled up to the home, angry Shelton High School kids surrounded the vehicle, rocking it and damaging it.

Valle said he “felt a bit of panic” when that occurred.

After the SUV drove down the road away from the crowd, Valle testified that the driver, his friend Jack Snyder, tossed Valle his knife unprompted.

“At first it hit me and fell on the floor. I picked it up and said, ‘What are you giving me a knife for?’” Valle recalled.

“How did you feel when he threw that knife to you?” Smith asked.

“Confused,” Valle replied.

“And what did you do with the knife?” Smith questioned.

“Put it in my pocket,” Valle answered.

Valle’s testimony directly contradicted testimony from Snyder and other witnesses, who said Valle specifically asked for Snyder's knife before the stabbing.

Valle was the first witness called by the defense after the prosecution rested its case Monday afternoon. Over the course of eight days, the state called about two dozen people, most of them partygoers from that night.

Charlie Connery was the final witness in the case against Valle. Connery, who was 16 at the time, is the one heard on the video of the fight yelling, “He’s got a knife! He’s got a knife!” Connery told the jury McGrath wasn’t part of the brawl, unlike the other stabbing victims—including Connery’s brother. Connery said everyone had gotten off of Valle when he attacked McGrath, whom Connery called a bystander.

“The defendant went after the closest person to him, and that was Jimmy McGrath and stabbed him,” Connery told the jury.

Connery also said McGrath tried to avoid Valle and was backing up at the time.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Marc Durso played the video of the fight slowed down.

“At frame 535, Jimmy's actually stepping back,” Durso stated pointing to the still image. “Is that the point you see him get stabbed by the defendant?”

“Seconds right after that, yes,” Connery replied, adding that he saw something shiny in Valle’s hand.

On cross examination, Smith suggested Connery can’t claim for sure McGrath didn’t engage in the fight. Smith also pointed to differences in what Connery first told police and his later statement.

Connery was the second witness who detailed seeing Valle purposely stab McGrath. Taylor Capela, who testified to that Friday, returned to the stand first thing Monday morning for questioning by the defense. Capela previously described Valle lunging at McGrath, who she said was watching the fight, not part of it.

“You're certain you had a clear view of seeing what happened between Mr. Valle and Mr. McGrath?” Smith asked her.

“100%,” Capela replied.

"You wouldn’t want to see Jimmy McGrath’s memory or reputation damaged in any way, would you?” questioned Smith.

"No," Capela stated, remaining adamant McGrath never engaged in any violence that night.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Tatiana Messina asked Capela what she was sure she witnessed that night.

“I watched the defendant go up to Jimmy and stab Jimmy,” Capela responded.

“When the defendant came up to Jimmy, was it a purposeful stabbing?” Messina continued.

“Yes,” Capela said.

“When the defendant came up to Jimmy was there any hesitation that you saw in him stabbing Jimmy?” Messina said wrapping up her questions.

"No," Capela answered.

Valle continues his testimony at Milford Superior Court on Tuesday morning. His attorney has categorized the fight as an attack on Valle and suggested he acted in self defense. Valle previously turned down a deal to serve 40 years in prison.