The trial of a teenager accused of murdering a star athlete at Fairfield Prep finally began on Monday after a three- year wait.

Relatives of Jimmy McGrath left the courtroom in tears as graphic photos of his stab wounds were shown in court.

Raul Valle, 19, is accused of killing McGrath in May 2022. McGrath, a 17 year-old lacrosse and football star, was stabbed to death at a house party in Shelton.

The chief medical examiner, Dr. James Gill, showed the jury graphic autopsy photos.

He testified that McGrath’s heart was punctured.

“The stab wound went through the wall of that left ventricle of the heart,” Gill said.

Valle sat emotionless as the pictures were displayed. Prosecutors said he murdered McGrath after a fight at one house party spilled over to another one.

"So upon arrival, I observed a chaotic scene,” paramedic Jeff McKee testified. “A lot of younger individuals – individuals crying, screaming.”

“I didn't feel like obscenities were being yelled, like, at us, in a violent method. It was more like, you know, 'Hurry the blank up. He's blanking dying,'" said emergency medical technician Michael Egan. A Shelton police detective told jurors that several witnesses pointed the finger at Valle, who allegedly fled the scene in a Honda Pilot. Jurors saw pictures of the vehicle, as well as minor cuts and scrapes on Valle from when he was arrested.

Authorities never found a murder weapon, Sgt. Richard Bango testified, but he said police obtained cellphone video of the fight that preceded the stabbing. On Tuesday, jurors saw grainy Ring camera video from a nearby house.

Valle rejected a plea deal that would have sent him to prison for 40 years. Instead, the defense suggested that McGrath and his friends were drunken aggressors.

“If this jury is interested in knowing why Mr. Valle did what he did that night, you can't tell us anything that would help them, can you?” asked defense attorney Kevin Smith.

Gill responded, “No.”

Valle is accused of stabbing three other people, who all survived.

The trial resumes on Wednesday and is expected to last about two weeks. It’s unclear in Valle will take the stand.