...
By Anna Commander
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Newly released evidence from the Collin County murder trial of Karmelo Anthony has provided a closer look into the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Dallas-area track meet last April.
Because cameras were barred from the courtroom during the trial, the release by the judge who presided over the case marks the first public disclosure of the photographic and video evidence presented to the jury. The materials were made available following the 19-year-old's conviction on June 9 where a jury rejected his claim of self-defense and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
What to Know About the Anthony/Metcalf Case
On April 2, 2025, Metcalf, a 17‑year‑old Memorial High School linebacker, was fatally stabbed during a weather delay at a Frisco, Texas, track meet.
Read More on News
Witnesses told police that Anthony, a Centennial High School athlete, had taken shelter under Memorial’s tent and was repeatedly asked to leave. According to the arrest affidavit, Anthony warned students not to touch him and kept a hand in his backpack before Metcalf pushed him. Moments later, Anthony stabbed Metcalf once in the chest with a black folding knife, piercing his heart.
Anthony immediately surrendered, telling officers, "I was protecting myself" and asking whether Metcalf would survive. He was charged with murder, indicted, and ultimately tried as an adult under Texas law.
...
Key Evidence Released by the Court
The newly public judicial records include:
- The Weapon: Photographs of the knife introduced by the prosecution as the murder weapon.
- Crime Scene Context: Images of Anthony's backpack and surveillance footage captured inside the Memorial High School team tent moments before the confrontation.
- Movement Timelines: Video tracking Anthony's movements immediately preceding and following the fatal altercation.
- Audio Admissions: Police body-camera footage capturing Anthony stating, "I'm not alleged, I did it." While Anthony is out of frame during the recording, the audio captures the statement.
Defense Arguments and the Impending Appeal
The evidence release coincides with efforts by Anthony's legal team to pursue an appeal.
During the trial, a central pillar of the defense's strategy focused on the physical size disparity between Anthony and Metcalf. The defense argued that the difference in height and weight justified Anthony’s fear for his safety. Metcalf was about 6 feet tall and roughly 200 pounds, while Anthony was listed at 5 feet, 11 inches and about 162 pounds. However, jurors concluded that the physical mismatch did not warrant the use of deadly force.
Anthony filed his notice of appeal the day after the verdict, submitting the paperwork himself and declaring that he has no money to hire an appellate lawyer. In the filing, he described himself as "penniless, destitute, and indigent," asking the court to appoint counsel to represent him.
His trial attorney, Mike Howard, confirmed the defense intends to challenge several issues, including a Batson challenge raised during jury selection.
Anthony has since been transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, completing intake before being assigned to the Pack Unit near Navasota. Until a judge rules on his indigency and appoints counsel, the appeal cannot advance beyond the initial notice.
Under Texas law, people convicted of murder are not eligible for bond while appealing, meaning Anthony will remain in state custody throughout the process.
...
Public Scrutiny and Backlash
The case has drawn intense public scrutiny and sharp polarization across social media and local communities. While supporters of the Metcalf family have maintained that the 35-year sentence represents a necessary measure of accountability, the verdict has also drawn high-profile condemnation.
Outside the courthouse, supporters of both families chanted across barricades, echoing the same arguments dominating social media: whether the size gap mattered, whether self-defense applied, and whether the jury’s decision reflected justice or bias.
Following Anthony's conviction, rapper Cardi B took to social media and wrote: "Wow! Just freakin wow! DISGUSTING… This is not justice, this is trying to make an example!!!"
Public figures advocating for the prosecution's outcome have utilized the newly released evidence to reinforce the jury's decision. On Friday, conservative activist Jack Posobiec shared an image of the trial evidence on X, posting, "This was a photo of the evidence in the Austin Metcalf murder. Never forget what Karmelo Anthony did."
The release of trial evidence may reignite many of those debates, with supporters and critics alike using the newly available images and videos to reinforce their views of the case.
...
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines