Latest news with #murdertrial
ABC News
10-07-2025
- ABC News
Murder trial jury of Lachlan Young taken to location where Hannah McGuire's body was found
Jurors in the trial of Lachlan Young, who is accused of murdering his ex-partner Hannnah McGuire, have been taken to the Victorian home where she allegedly died and the location where her body was found. Mr Young, who is being tried in the Supreme Court in Ballarat, has pleaded not guilty to murder but has admitted that he caused Ms McGuire's death. The 23-year-old's offer to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter was rejected by the prosecution. Ms McGuire's family reported her missing in April last year and the 23-year-old's body was later found in a burnt-out vehicle at Scarsdale, south-west of Ballarat. In court today the jury was shown a series of maps, photographs, floor plans and crime scene footage allegedly related to Ms McGuire's death. Detective Senior Constable James Allen told the court that authorities had been able to track the movements of Ms McGuire, Mr Young, and a second man allegedly involved in the disposal of Ms McGuire's body on the night she died. A series of time-stamped maps that Senior Constable Allenn said were based on CCTV footage were presented to the court. The jury was also shown images of the fire-damaged vehicle, Ms McGuire's remains, and the house she shared with Mr Young. The jurors then left the court to visit those sites and others. The trial continues.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
Raul Valle, accused of stabbing Fairfield, Connecticut prep school lacrosse player James "Jimmy" McGrath to death in March 2022, has been found not guilty on murder and intentional manslaughter charges. Valle was also acquitted of first- and second-degree intentional assault. The jury was deadlocked on charges of first-degree reckless manslaughter and first- and second-degree reckless assault. Judge Shari Murphy declared a mistrial on those deadlocked charges. Valle, now 20, was tearful during an emotional reaction to the verdict. He was 16 when McGrath, 17, was stabbed to death during a booze-fueled teenage brawl following a house party. McGrath played lacrosse at Fairfield College Preparatory School. Outside the courtroom, McGrath's father, Kevin McGrath, reacted to the verdict with shock. "I'm astonished at the results, but, you know, it's due process. [Valle] is entitled to it. And at the end of the day, the jury made their verdict," he said. "I'm not sure if, you know, if they were in the same courtroom as we all were together, but that's the verdict, and we'll live with it." He described himself as "perhaps overconfident" that Valle would be convicted when he learned that the jury had returned a verdict. Read On The Fox News App "I'm shocked. You know, it's probably why I'm in control," he said. "I'm shocked right now of the verdict." However, McGrath said the trial was fair. "Raul Valle received a fair trial," he said. "I don't believe Raul Valle woke up Saturday morning and said he was going to kill Jimmy McGrath. You know, I never believed that. They didn't know each other. I'm just in shock that an innocent young man with a brilliant potential is not with us anymore. And the person that took his life is right now free tonight." McGrath thanked the first responders, investigators, the court and the media for conducting themselves professionally throughout the criminal justice process. The family's attorney, Michael Rosnick, mentioned in passing that the state could retry Valle on the lesser included charges where a mistrial was declared. "There are lesser included charges," he said. "I anticipate, we anticipate, that the state's attorney's office will file an information, but I'm going to let the state's attorney's office speak for itself." Deadlocked Jurors In Prep School Lacrosse Player's Killing A 'Great Sign' For Defense: Expert Donna Rotunno is a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor. She told Fox News Digital that the not-guilty verdict on the murder charge is justified. "I don't think that the punishment would fit the elements of the crime in this circumstance," she said Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think this rises to the level of … where somebody should spend the rest of their life in prison. And it's an awful, terrible, tragic situation. But I don't think that there was the level of intent necessary to spend the rest of their life in prison. "There is never an intent to use [a weapon]. Your hope is to have it in case you need it and I think the facts and circumstances of this situation lend to that analysis. I think that this was a circumstance where a fight broke out. I do believe that [Valle] felt that he was in danger. I believe he felt that his friends were in danger, and therefore those were the decisions that he made. And, you know, knife or not, that was that." Self-defense Claim In Austin Metcalf Slaying Is 'Uphill Battle': Expert The jury was deadlocked at 11-1 on Monday and Tuesday before deliberations continued Wednesday morning, as NBC Connecticut reported. Valle testified during the trial, claiming the stabbing was self-defense. "I think those stories are very compelling for jurors. I think jurors really try to get it right," Rotunno told Fox News Digital on Tuesday, before the jury reached the verdict. "Obviously, there are some cases where maybe that analysis doesn't fit or somebody makes the claim of self-defense [and] it doesn't make sense under the law. But … given the way this jury has been out now for a couple of days, and they're clearly deadlocked … [defense attorneys] have made a compelling argument to at least one or some." She added that any time a defendant asserts self-defense, "the burden shifts to you to show that … you were in reasonable fear." Valle took the witness stand in his own defense last week, which Rotunno said is "almost necessary" in cases like his. Austin Metcalf's Suspected Killer Indicted On First-degree Murder Charge In Track Meet Stabbing Valle attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull near Fairfield Prep, where McGrath was a junior. Both had been at a house party on the evening of May 14, 2022 that involved a fight and underage drinking prior to the stabbing, which occurred at another house party later that night. Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a fight that occurred just before midnight on May 14, 2022 outside a residence on Laurel Glen Drive in Shelton and found multiple victims on the front lawn. The owner of the residence where the party took place was home at the time of the incident, according to a warrant. At one point, there were about 25 people engaged in the fight on the front lawn of the home, witnesses told police. At least three juvenile suspects are mentioned in the report, including Valle, who is suspected of having a knife. McGrath had "one stab wound to the left side of the chest," the warrant states. "The stab wound went through the rib and heart." Connecticut Teen To Stand Trial For Prep School Athlete's Murder That Has 'Shaken' Parents, Schools: Attorney A doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Connecticut told police that there were approximately 1.8 liters of blood in McGrath's lungs. During his emotional testimony, Valle said he never intended to kill anyone that evening. He said a friend handed him the knife during a large fight involving dozens of teenagers who surrounded him. He alleged that at one point during the fight, he lost consciousness. Valle further said he was swinging the knife in all directions and felt overwhelmed, according to Court TV. "So I think that it's very difficult in a self-defense case for a jury to not hear from the defendant," Rotunno explained. "Sometimes, you can establish it through other witnesses, but if you have a defendant that can take the stand, and you have somebody who … is going to do a good job telling the jury what happened, I almost think it's necessary in these cases." Rotunno said that "in a melee, you have to remember, you're talking about split-second situations." She noted that at one point during his testimony, Valle was asked whether someone next to him was coming directly at him during the fight, to which he responded that he could not remember. Rachel Morin Murder: Illegal Immigrant Suspect Denied Ever Being In Maryland At Time Of Crime "I think that for the defense, the best piece of information is just the fact that this is a total fight. You have no idea who's coming at you. You don't know what's going to happen to you. You're in fear, and you act," she said. "And in any circumstance, I understand that the prosecution is going to say, he brought this knife to a fist fight, right? … But just because you have a weapon on you doesn't mean that there was an intent to use it. And if you're not the aggressor, it doesn't mean you don't have a right to then defend yourself." If the jury does not come to an agreement, the judge may declare a mistrial. That could result in the case going "back to square one," Rotunno said. The defense could also argue for Valle's release in the case of a mistrial. A representative from St. Joseph told Fox News Digital in 2022 that Valle had been in good academic standing and had not been in any fights at school before the May 14 incident. Valle was released on $2 million bond just days after his arrest in May 2022. An obituary for McGrath described the 17-year-old as the "sunshine" of his parents' life and his sister's "best friend and confidant." "Many described Jim as a wonderfully happy person with a big heart who was a loving friend to many," the obituary states. "He loved his school, Fairfield Prep, and he excelled as an athlete in every sport he chose. He played football and lacrosse for Fairfield Prep and as a youth for Shelton and Connecticut Wolves as well. He understood the meaning of being part of a team."Original article source: Prep school lacrosse player's accused killer found not guilty of murder
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
YNW Melly murder retrial to start Sept. 10, ready or not
The retrial of Jamell 'YNW Melly' Demons will get underway with jury selection on Sept. 10 as scheduled, a Broward judge ruled Wednesday, dismissing the objections of prosecutors who say they are still waiting for an appeals court to rule on a slew of important issues. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein showed little patience for the state's insistence that the matters being considered by the Fourth District Court of Appeal leave him with no choice but to delay the trial, which was first put on hold during jury selection in October 2023. Demons, 26, was the most prominent member of the YNW rap collective, with a string of hits including 'Suicidal' and 'Murder on My Mind.' He is accused of the October 2018 murders of fellow rappers and childhood friends Anthony 'YNW Sakchaser' Williams and Christopher 'YNW Juvy' Thomas. A co-defendant, Cortlen 'YNW Bortlen' Henry, is also awaiting trial. Investigators and prosecutors say the four rappers attended a late-night recording session in Fort Lauderdale and left together in a Jeep driven by Henry. A short time later, Henry pulled up to Memorial Hospital Miramar with Williams, 21, and Thomas, 19, shot to death in the front and rear passenger seats. Henry told police they were victims of a drive-by shooter. Investigators poring over phone records, witness testimony and video from the Fort Lauderdale recording studio determined that Demons, who had been sitting behind Henry, shot and killed his two former friends before they had a chance to fight back. Demons could face the death penalty if convicted. Henry was charged with murder as a principal and with being an accessory after the fact. Detectives said he helped Demons make it look like a drive-by, though medical experts said the fatal shots came from inside the Jeep, from the seat last known to be occupied by Demons (who was seen getting into the vehicle on surveillance video from outside the recording studio). Defense lawyers said Demons got out of the Jeep before the shooting and challenged the forensic medical testimony. Demons' first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2023. Since then, the original judge on his case ruled that prosecutors would not be able to re-use some of the technological evidence that they presented to help establish Demons' alleged motives, gang affiliation and consciousness of guilt. The appeals court has yet to rule on whether that restriction will stand, among other issues. According to appeals court records, the case is set for oral arguments on Sept. 16. At the same time, the defense has accused the Broward State Attorney's Office of prosecutorial misconduct and has repeatedly tried to get them thrown off the case. The state later charged Demons with witness tampering at his first trial. One of his lawyers, Raven Liberty, remains under investigation herself, though no charges have been filed against her. Criminal charges against Liberty would create a conflict of interest that would likely force her off the case. Prosecutor Justin Griffis told Fein Wednesday that the investigation into her conduct is ongoing. In court on Wednesday, Fein said the issues in front of the appeals court are not enough reason to delay the retrial. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will appeal Fein's decision. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@ or 954-356-4457.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Connecticut man is CLEARED of murdering prep school boy, 17, at boozy house party
A former prep school student has been cleared of murder after he was accused of stabbing a 17-year-old to death over a fight about beer in a glitzy Connecticut town. Raul Elias Valle, now 20, was found not guilty of murder, manslaughter or assault over the May 14, 2022 killing of Fairfield Prep student James 'Jimmy' McGrath. A jury reached a partial verdict Wednesday finding him not guilty on those charges, while the judge declared a mistrial on the charges the jury could not come to a decision on. Valle looked relieved as his lip quivered and his eyes began welling up with tears while the verdict was read more than three years after McGrath's death.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Outnumbered - Wednesday, July 9
All times eastern The Evening Edit with Elizabeth Macdonald FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage WATCH LIVE: Raul Valle's murder trial for killing of Connecticut prep school lacrosse player
