'Just stabbing in every direction': 20-year-old gives chilling account of fatal confrontation at house party, claims he was 'attacked by a whole bunch' of rival high schoolers

It allegedly took Raul Valle astir 45 seconds to termination Connecticut precocious schooler James McGrath — plunging a weapon into his thorax during a combat astatine an alcohol-fueled location party — earlier stabbing 3 others successful an enactment helium says was self-defense.

This week, conscionable implicit 3 years aft the slaying, Valle took the basal astatine his murder proceedings and painted the alleged country for jurors, recounting however helium was "just stabbing successful each direction" and "terrified" for his beingness that nighttime aft being jumped, helium claims.

"Everything conscionable went black," said Valle, who was 16 astatine the time, portion testifying Tuesday successful Superior Court successful Milford. Law&Crime is livestreaming the trial.

"I started waving and conscionable stabbing successful each direction, conscionable flailing my limb around," Valle alleged, claiming helium was "attacked by a full clump of people" that nighttime successful May 2022.

"I kept flailing my limb astir …  terrified," Valle said. "It didn't marque him stop, adjacent though I was flailing astir a knife."

Valle's lawyer, Kevin Smith, claims the warring stemmed from a brawl earlier successful the evening, with 1 of the stabbing victims allegedly being progressive successful a combat with Valle and his friends. McGrath and the victims attended Fairfield College Preparatory School successful Fairfield, portion Valle went to St. Joseph's High School successful Trumbull, which is simply a rival of Fairfield Prep's.

Asked what helium was swinging astatine that night, Valle said: "Anybody who was coming astatine me."

"It felt similar the lone happening that would assistance me," the 20-year-old testified.

Valle, who was charged arsenic an adult, reportedly turned himself successful aft the fatal stabbing and was released connected a $2 cardinal bond. He said Tuesday that helium felt "hopeless" and "scared" that nighttime earlier pulling the weapon from his pocket.

"They conscionable weren't stopping," Valle alleged, successful notation to the radical helium claims were attacking him. "I didn't spot it [the stabbings] happen," helium said. "I didn't consciousness maine stab [McGrath]. I didn't spell up to him and stab him."

Asked if anyone other had weapons, Valle admitted, "I was the lone 1 with a knife."

Police coiled up arresting 2 parents who allegedly served alcohol to the youngsters astatine a enactment that preceded the deadly fight.

The Shelton couple, identified arsenic Susanna Leifer and Paul Leifer, was convicted and sentenced successful January 2024 to accelerated rehabilitation for allowing the minors to person alcohol, section ABC affiliate WTNH reported.

Marisa Sarnoff contributed to this report.