THE judge presiding over the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony has allowed the jury to consider a lesser charge than murder when they begin deliberations.

The shocking ruling came moments before Anthony‘s defense team began its closing arguments on Tuesday.

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Karmelo Anthony (pictured after being released on bond on April 14, 2025) is charged with first-degree murder and is facing up to 99 years in prison, if convictedCredit: Unknown
 

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Austin Metcalf died after suffering a single stab wound to the chestCredit: GoFundMe
Anthony, now 19, is accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf, 17, at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.

Judge John Roach ruled the jury could consider the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a sentence of 2 to 20 years in prison.

The decision came after Anthony‘s defense attorney Mike Howard requested that the judge allow the jury to consider manslaughter instead of murder.

Howard also argued to include criminally negligent homicide, a lower-level felony as opposed to murder and manslaughter, in the list of charges the jury could deliberate.

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Under Texas law, criminally negligent homicide applies when a defendant acted in a way that was dangerously irresponsible, even if they did not mean to cause the death of a victim.

However, Judge Roach denied the defense’s request and ruled to include manslaughter in the jury instructions.

The jury will now deliberate on whether to convict Anthony of first-degree murder or manslaughter, or acquit him.

Anthony is facing a punishment of between 5 and 99 years, if convicted of first-degree murder.

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Due to his age at the time the incident, Anthony, then 17, is not eligible for a capital murder offense.

Howard began his closing arguments after prosecutors waived their right to open, contending that Metcalf had no legal right to put his hands on Anthony.

“The government wants this case to be about, Melo could have left,” Howard said, referring to Anthony by his nickname.

“Sure, he could have. I’m sure he wishes he did.

“The state wants you to believe he sneaked into the tent. Multiple witnesses said he seemed friendly. They dapped each other up. He was even waved over.”

The heated disputed between Anthony and Metcalf occurred at the bleachers at Kuykendall Stadium in the Dallas suburb on April 2, 2025.

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The heated disputed between Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf occurred at the bleachers at Kuykendall Stadium in the Dallas suburb on April 2, 2025Credit: NBC Dallas Fort Worth
 

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A courtroom sketch showed Karmelo Anthony’s attorney delivering his opening arguments on June 4Credit: AP
Anthony, a student at Centennial High School, was standing under a tent intended for students at Frisco Memorial High School, where Metcalf was a student-athlete.

Howard told jurors that Anthony went under the tent to take cover from the rain and there he was chatting with Edwin Parra, a close friend of his girlfriend and a student at Memorial High School.

About 10 minutes later, Metcalf and his twin, Hunter, approached Anthony and instructed him to leave, which Howard said left his client confused and asked “why they were making such a big deal out of it.”

During closing arguments, Howard reminded jurors that they heard testimony from witnesses that heard Anthony tell the brothers, “No one has a problem with me being here but y’all.”

“Do you turn your back and walk away, or will these boys grab you from behind where you can’t defend yourself?” Howard asked.

“Melo was seated the whole time. They didn’t have the legal right to use force to eject him.

“How do you know when it’s too late to defend yourself?”

Howard argued to jurors that when Metcalf put his hands on Anthony that gave the defendant the right to defend himself.

“You are justified to use deadly force when you believe it is immediately necessary,” the defense attorney added.

Howard reminded jurors of the size differential between Anthony and Metcalf.

Anthony is 5’7 and 130 pounds, while Metcalf is a football linebacker who stood at 6’1 and weighed 213 pounds, Howard said.

The attorney reminded jurors about the testimony from police officers and school administrators who witnessed Anthony visibly emotional after the incident.

“Every person said he was crying, was emotional, or distraught,” Howard argued.

Howard concluded his closing arguments by saying there was no motive behind the stabbing, only that Anthony was trying to defend himself.

“There is no evidence Karmelo did anything but really think he was defending himself in that split second of chaos,” he told jurors.

“Ask yourself, has the government ruled out your reasonable doubts?

“Is it reasonable to worry these kids might jump in, that Hunter might pop in to defend his brother?

“It doesn’t mean he came to the tent to provoke a fight. Why would he provoke a fight against a guy who’s much bigger than him?”

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye argued to jurors in his closing arguments that Anthony’s words to Metcalf were not a warning, but a threat.

“They want to talk about motive. What is not important is motive. What should be important is mindset. He took a knife to a track meet, and kept it hidden,” Wirskye said.

“There is a no weapon policy. He was the only one with a knife. He was always going to come out on top.

“You don’t get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke a shove.

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“That equals murder plain and simple. Unjustified murder.”

The jury received the case at around 10:50am local time.

SOURCE: THE SUN

https://www.the-sun.com/news/16474161/karmelo-anthony-trial-jury-manslaughter-charge-austin-metcalf/