The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony began Thursday, with prosecutors detailing the final moments of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed during a Texas high school track meet last year.
Anthony, now 19, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing at a track and field event at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas, April 2, 2025. He has pleaded not guilty, according to UNILAD.
Austin and his alleged killer had reportedly never met each other prior to the fatal encounter. Witnesses claimed that Austin confronted Karmelo, who attends another school, for sitting in Frisco Memorial High School’s tent in the stands, telling him to move.
Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, who was also there, told WFAA: “And my brother stepped in and said, ‘You need to move. And he’s like, ‘Make me move.’”
During opening statements, prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors that Metcalf realized he had been stabbed, lifted his shirt, and said, “I’ve been stabbed” before collapsing down several rows of bleachers.
Karmelo Anthony murder trial
According to prosecutors, Hunter rushed to his brother’s side and held him as he lay dying.
Wirskye also argued that Anthony attempted to distance himself from the crime by discarding the knife prosecutors say was used in the attack, and trying to blend in with the people evacuating the stadium.
“If you’re scared and running away in self-defence, why toss the knife?” Wirskye told the jury, according to UNILAD.
“That knife wasn’t used to protect him from harm. That knife was used to harm another. Find this man guilty of first-degree murder.”
According to an arrest report cited by NBC Dallas-Fort Worth: “Austin grabbed Anthony to tell him to move and Anthony pulled out … a black knife and stabbed Austin once in the chest.”
Claims he acted out of fear
Anthony’s defense team has argued that he acted out of fear. His attorney, Mike Howard, told jurors: “In that split second, Melo has a decision to make: how and when to act. Self-defense is useless if you wait too late to defend yourself. He reacts in a split second of fear, chaos,” according to UNILAD.
“After Karmelo defended himself with that knife, he ran. He didn’t stab again. He dropped the knife. He didn’t stab anyone else.”
The trial is expected to last about two weeks and follows an extensive jury selection process that began Monday, during which approximately 600 potential jurors were questioned.
More than 35 witnesses are expected to testify
A panel of men and women, along with six alternate jurors, was selected. Some prospective jurors were dismissed after indicating they would struggle to separate race from their decision-making process.
While prosecutors and Metcalf’s family have repeatedly said the case is not about race, civil rights organization Next Generation Action Network criticized the final jury selection, saying it was “outraged” that no Black jurors were seated.
More than 35 witnesses are expected to testify during the trial, including student athletes, coaches, and Hunter Metcalf.
Anthony has also drawn attention for the financial support he has received while fighting the case. More than $600,000 was raised through a GiveSendGo campaign established by his family. His father, Andrew Anthony, previously defended his son in an interview with the New York Post.
“He was not the aggressor. He was not the one who started it,” he said.
READ MORE
- US Senator reveals ‘real reason’ he thinks Trump is trying to put his name on things
- Real reason Trump canceled America’s 250th birthday party revealed
