The lawyer representing the man accused of killing Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James “Jimmy” McGrath in 2023 disclosed the pivotal element that led to his client’s acquittal.

Raul Valle, 20, took the stand in his own defense, which attorney Kevin Smith said was necessary for proving his client’s innocence. 

“He needed to testify in this self-defense case to explain that he felt threatened and was in significant danger,” Smith explained to WFSB. “There are very few situations where there would be sufficient additional evidence to support a claim of self-defense without his testimony.”

MILFORD, CT – JULY 3: Defense attorney Kevin Smith addresses the jury during closing arguments in Raul Valle’s murder trial at the state Superior Court in Milford, Conn. on July 3, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Valle was found not guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of McGrath, which stemmed from a booze-fueled party in May 2022 where a brawl broke out between 25 students on the lawn of a suburban Connecticut home. 

He was also cleared on charges of intentional manslaughter and intentional assault. The jury deadlocked on reckless manslaughter and reckless assault charges, and a partial mistrial was declared. Valle could be retried on those charges.

Valle was 16 at the time of the stabbing, and McGrath was 17. 

Jury foreman Jim Stuhlman said ultimately, prosecutors didn not provide enough evidence to prove their case. 

MILFORD, CT – JUNE 17: Raul Valle stands with his defense attorney Kevin Smith, left, on the first day of his murder trial in state Superior Court in Milford, Conn. June 17, 2025.  (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

He said the jury spent very little time deliberating on whether Valle had acted in self-defense because the jury believed that the state had failed to prove that he intended to kill McGrath. 

“There was so much inconsistencies and contradictions,” he continued. “Not everyone will be happy with the conclusion, we weren’t happy we couldn’t find an agreement on the final counts, but we did everything we could have to get as far as we did.”