Karmelo Anthony seeks new trial after 35-year sentence in killing of Austin Metcalf
Summary
Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old convicted of murder in Texas, is asking for a new trial and for the judge to step down. His lawyers say prosecutors broke their agreement and forced him to give up his right to testify, among other legal problems.Key Facts
- Karmelo Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, 17, at a track meet in 2025.
- Anthony’s defense team filed a motion for a new trial and asked for the judge’s removal.
- The lawyers claimed prosecutors made Anthony waive his right to testify by threatening to use unrelated character evidence.
- Prosecutors are accused of breaking a deal not to use evidence about the teenagers’ characters or past behavior.
- Anthony’s attorneys said his right to a public trial was violated due to restrictions on cameras and live streaming in the courtroom.
- The defense argued that the jury was wrongly told to ignore Anthony’s self-defense claim.
- The case drew national attention partly because Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white, raising issues of race.
- No Black jurors were selected for the trial; prosecutors said this was due to jurors’ work backgrounds, not race.
- Protests with racist messages occurred in the community, including actions by a banned far-right group leader.
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