The foreman of the jury in the murder trial of Raul Valle, who was acquitted Wednesday of murdering a 17-year-old prep school lacrosse player at a booze-fueled high school party, slammed the state for lacking evidence to support its case. 

Valle was accused of stabbing James “Jimmy” McGrath to death during a May 14, 2022 brawl in a highbrow Connecticut suburb. McGrath attended Fairfield College Preparatory Academy, and Valle attended nearby St. Joseph’s High School. 

Jim Stuhlman was the 10th juror and foreman in the trial. He read aloud Valle’s not guilty verdict, sparing the now 20-year-old from up to 60 years in prison. 

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)

On the night of the incident, Valle and others were involved in a fight at a home on Lazy Brook Road in Shelton. They then drove to the second party on Laurel Glen Drive. 

At some point, one of Valle’s friends allegedly gave him a knife, which was used during the brawl to stab McGrath. 

“The cases have been consolidated so that there will be one civil trial as opposed to multiple civil trials,” Rosnick said. 

The McGraths are also suing one of the teenager’s parents, who are accused of providing alcohol to the minors. Other parties in the lawsuit include the homeowners of the Laurel Glen Drive property, along with their son, who was allegedly hosting the party, court records show. 

Rosnick said that now that the criminal trial is finished, the civil proceedings will begin. 

Tyler DaSilva, a former St. Joseph High School points to Raul Valle as he is asked to identify the defendant as he testifies of the seventh day of Valle’s murder trial in state Superior Court, in Milford, Conn. June 27, 2025. (Ned Gerard/Connecticut Post via Getty Images)

“We were very mindful to be respectful of the state attorney, its autonomy and its own investigation, and to not do anything that could jeopardize anything in the criminal trial,” he said. “Now that the criminal trial is over, we’re going to be much more aggressive in our pursuit of justice against all the responsible parties.”

The state’s attorney’s office did not immediately return a comment request.