Suspect in preppy booze-fueled Connecticut party stabbing death asks court to drop charges: 'Double jeopardy'

The lawyer for a Connecticut antheral who was precocious acquitted of first-degree execution charges stemming from a booze-fueled brawl betwixt prep schoolhouse students is making different determination to guarantee his client's freedom.

Last July, a assemblage recovered Raul Valle, present 19, not blameworthy of execution and intentional manslaughter successful the May 14, 2022 stabbing decease of James "Jimmy" McGrath. Valle was 16 astatine the clip of the incident, and McGrath was 17.

The assemblage was deadlocked connected lesser charges of reckless manslaughter successful that trial, starring to a partial mistrial.

Valle attended St. Joseph High School successful Trumbull, adjacent Fairfield Prep, wherever McGrath was a inferior and prima lacrosse player. Prior to the stabbing that evening, some had been astatine a location enactment that progressive underage drinking and a fight.

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Split representation of Jimmy McGrath showing him successful a collared garment and necktie and successful his Fairfield College Preparatory School lacrosse uniform. (The McGrath Family)

After heading to different determination to proceed partying, tempers flared again and astir 25 radical engaged successful different brawl connected the beforehand tract of the 2nd home, whose owners were contiguous astatine the time, witnesses told police. It was during that combat that the stabbing decease occurred.

Valle admitted to the stabbing, but said it was committed successful self-defense and successful defence of a friend.

The time aft Valle's July 9, 2025, acquittal connected the astir superior charges, the authorities filed caller reckless manslaughter and reckless battle charges.

Raul Valle speaks during his 2nd time of grounds astatine his execution proceedings successful authorities Superior Court successful Milford, Conn., connected July 1, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post)

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Now, Valle's attorney, Darnell Crosland, has filed a question claiming that the reckless manslaughter and reckless battle charges represent treble jeopardy, which is unconstitutional, according to The Connecticut Post.

Crosland's question says the lone mentation for the archetypal jury's determination to acquit connected the first-degree execution complaint was that his lawsuit acted successful self-defense.

"No different mentation explains the acquittals," helium wrote successful the motion.

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Defense lawyer Kevin Smith delivers his closing arguments to the assemblage during Raul Valle's execution proceedings successful authorities Superior Court successful Milford, Conn., connected July 3, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post)

"The assemblage has spoken," helium continued. "The instrumentality is clear. The tribunal indispensable disregard these charges with prejudice — immediately."

The Connecticut Post reported that successful an interrogation aft Valle's acquittal, the assemblage foreperson said self-defense was not discussed.

In their ain filing, prosecutors disagreed with Crosland's reasoning, according to the report.

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They described self-defense arsenic a "justification defense," not 1 that is cardinal to the elements of the charges Valle inactive faces, and thus, cannot beryllium utilized arsenic an statement to person the existent charges dismissed.

Kevin McGrath, begetter of slain prep schoolhouse lacrosse subordinate Jimmy McGrath, speaks to reporters extracurricular the authorities Superior Court successful Milford, Connecticut, pursuing Raul Valle's acquittal connected July 9, 2025. He is accompanied by household lawyer Michael Rosnick. (Fox News)

"The information that the assemblage acquitted the suspect of murder, intentional manslaughter and intentional assaults, but could not scope a unanimous verdict arsenic to the reckless charges, demonstrates lone that the assemblage indispensable person reached the decision that the suspect lacked the circumstantial intent to either termination oregon to origin superior carnal injury," the filing reportedly said.

McGrath's household was shocked by the results of the 2025 trial.

"I'm astonished astatine the results, but, you know, it's owed process," a stoic Kevin McGrath said extracurricular the authorities Superior Court successful Milford, Connecticut, aboriginal describing his lad arsenic a "wonderful person."

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"He's entitled to it," said McGrath. "And astatine the extremity of the day, the assemblage made their verdict. I'm not definite if, you know, they were successful the aforesaid courtroom arsenic we each were together, but that's the verdict. And we'll unrecorded with it." 

Fox News Digital reached retired to Crosland for comment.