Preppy Party Murder Suspect's Lawyer Says Client's Testimony Key To Acquittal

The lawyer for nan man who stood accused of murdering suburban Connecticut prep schoolhouse lacrosse subordinate James "Jimmy" McGrath successful 2023 revealed nan captious cardinal to his client's acquittal. 

Raul Valle, 20, took nan stand successful his ain defense, which lawyer Kevin Smith said was basal for proving his client's innocence. 

"He was going to person to return nan guidelines successful a self-defense lawsuit erstwhile you are telling folks you felt a definite way, and you were successful specified danger," Smith told WFSB. "I tin deliberation of fewer instances wherever location would beryllium capable different grounds to put it connected and opportunity you had a self-defense claim."

MILFORD, CT - JULY 3:  Defense lawyer Kevin Smith speaks to nan assemblage during his closing arguments astatine Raul Valle's execution proceedings successful authorities Superior Court, successful Milford, Conn. July 3, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

PROSECUTION'S 'INCONSISTENCIES' IN PREP SCHOOL MURDER TRIAL LED TO SUSPECT'S ACQUITTAL: JURY FOREMAN

"Nobody ever wants to person to return different life," Smith said. "Mr. Valle surely ne'er wanted to do that. I deliberation nan grounds is clear."

Smith noted that, for illustration Valle, he was relieved that nan proceedings had finished. He said that he mislaid 15 pounds during nan ordeal. The proceedings lasted 8 days, and was followed by two-and-a-half days of assemblage deliberation. 

He told his customer to support a debased floor plan aft nan acquittal. 

"I’ve told him to debar nationalist places wherever he whitethorn beryllium subjected to immoderate behaviour he doesn’t need, doesn’t request group harassing him, keeping a debased profile, which he did during nan trial," he stated.

Split image of Jimmy McGrath (Fairfield College Preparatory School)

SLAIN PREP SCHOOL LACROSSE PLAYER'S FATHER 'ASTONISHED' AFTER MURDER SUSPECT ACQUITTED IN STABBING CASE

On Wednesday, Valle was recovered not blameworthy of first-degree execution successful nan stabbing decease of McGrath, which stemmed from a booze-fueled statement successful May 2022 wherever a brawl collapsed retired betwixt 25 students connected nan section of a suburban Connecticut home. 

He was besides cleared connected charges of intentional manslaughter and intentional assault. The assemblage deadlocked connected reckless manslaughter and reckless battle charges, and a partial mistrial was declared. Valle could beryllium retried connected those charges.

Valle was 16 astatine nan clip of nan stabbing, and McGrath was 17. 

Jury foreman Jim Stuhlman said ultimately, prosecutors didn not supply capable grounds to beryllium their case. 

MILFORD, CT - JUNE 17: Raul Valle stands pinch his defense lawyer Kevin Smith, left, connected nan first time of his execution proceedings successful authorities Superior Court successful Milford, Conn. June 17, 2025.  (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

He said nan assemblage spent very small clip deliberating connected whether Valle had acted successful self-defense because nan assemblage believed that nan authorities had grounded to beryllium that he intended to termination McGrath. 

"There was truthful overmuch inconsistencies and contradictions," he continued. "Not everyone will beryllium happy pinch nan conclusion, we weren’t happy we couldn’t find an statement connected nan last counts, but we did everything we could person to get arsenic acold arsenic we did."