Jury Instructions

✨✨I know Jury Instructions can be difficult for all of us (we remember in Karen Read’s trial), so I thought I would try to have it organized in some way to make it easier for us to figure out. Based on a lot of members' comments, I also focused on some of the lesser included charges as well. Obviously, this is not the official charge outline as she is not finished instructing the jury. But we have a long weekend. These should roughly be what Judge Murphy has to read to the jury for jury instructions. She will complete reading a detailed jury instruction sheet on 7/7/2025.

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Jury instruction sheet that Judge Shari A. Murphy must read aloud before deliberations in the Raul Valle trial, detailing each main and lesser‑included charge and the self‑defense standard:

📜 Judge's Jury Instruction Sheet

1. Preliminary Instructions

• Jurors are reminded of their duty to apply the law impartially.
• The burden is on the State to prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Witness credibility and evaluating evidence are jurors’ responsibilities.

2. Count 1: Murder in the First Degree

• Elements jurors must consider:

  1. Did Valle stab James McGrath?
  2. Did he do so with specific intent to kill?
  3. Was McGrath’s death caused by that act?

• [Lesser-included offenses if the jury is not convinced of murder]: A. First‑Degree Intentional Manslaughter B. First‑Degree Reckless Manslaughter

• Sentencing ranges:

  • Murder: 25–60 years
  • Manslaughter: 1–20 years

3. Count 2 & Count 3: First‑Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon

• Applicable to: Ryan Heinz & Thomas Connery
• Core question: Did Valle intentionally cause serious physical injury using a knife?
• Lesser-included offenses (in mandatory sequence):
  1. Reckless First‑Degree Assault
  2. Intentional Second‑Degree Assault
  3. Reckless Second‑Degree Assault

4. Count 4: Second‑Degree Assault

• Applicable to: Faison Teele
• Lesser-included offense: Reckless Second‑Degree Assault
• Sequence:
  1. Intentional/Knowing bodily injury with a dangerous instrument
  2. If not proven, Reckless Second‑Degree Assault

5. Self-Defense Instructions (applies to all counts)

• Jurors must consider if Valle reasonably believed he faced imminent threat, and the force used was necessary and proportionate.
• If self-defense is established “beyond a reasonable doubt,” jurors must acquit on that count.
• Applicable to all charges, including assault and manslaughter.

6. Instruction Flow & Deliberation Order

1. Count 1 (Murder): → If not guilty, proceed to intentional manslaughter → if not, reckless manslaughter → if still no, verdict must be not guilty.
2. Counts 2 & 3 (Assault w/ a deadly weapon): → If not guilty, move to reckless assault 1st → then second-degree intentional → then second-degree reckless.
3. Count 4 (Second-degree assault): → If not guilty, consider reckless assault 2nd.
4. Self-defense must be evaluated at each stage—a finding of self-defense at any stage requires aquittal on that particular charge.

7. Next Steps & Deliberation Timing

• Closing arguments concluded Thursday; instructions were partially delivered (~75%) that afternoon.
• Jury will reconvene Monday after the July 4 holiday to finish instructions and begin deliberations.