Beyond the 806
Karmelo Anthony's lawyer asks for new trial in Texas track meet killing as new details are revealed - AP News
Karmelo Anthony's lawyer is pushing for a new trial in the 2024 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas high school track meet, with the case now hinging on an unusual agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys to withhold evidence from the jury. The Texas prosecutor who handled Anthony's conviction acknowledged Thursday that both sides agreed to suppress certain evidence, citing concerns it would further inflame a case already surrounded by racial tensions and death threats.
The Texas prosecutor who handled Anthony's conviction acknowledged Thursday that both sides agreed to suppress certain evidence, citing concerns it would further inflame a case already surrounded by racial tensions and death threats. Anthony was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing, which happened during a confrontation in the bleachers.
Whether that agreement constitutes grounds for a new trial is now before a judge. The prosecutor's own confirmation of the arrangement gives Anthony's legal team a concrete foothold to challenge the conviction's validity.
For Lubbock readers, this case is a reminder of how quickly a high school sporting event can become a criminal proceeding watched by the entire country. A 35-year sentence means Anthony would not be eligible for release until well into middle age, assuming no retrial is granted.
A judge has not yet ruled on whether the evidence agreement was enough to vacate the conviction.
Common questions
Why is Karmelo Anthony's lawyer asking for a new trial?
- Anthony's lawyer argues a new trial is warranted because prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to withhold certain evidence from the jury during his original trial. The Texas prosecutor confirmed that agreement Thursday, which Anthony's legal team is now using as grounds to challenge the conviction.
What was Karmelo Anthony convicted of and what was his sentence?
- Karmelo Anthony was convicted of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was stabbed during a confrontation in the bleachers at a Texas high school track meet in 2024. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. A judge is now deciding whether the evidence agreement warrants a new trial.
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