Karmelo Anthony may get offered LIGHTER charge as murder trial over stabbing of Austin Metcalf draws to a close: Live updates

Karmelo Anthony’s defense lawyer Mike Howard began closing arguments on Tuesday.

‘Austin Metcalf had no legal right to use force to eject Karmelo Anthony from that tent. He had the right to ask him to leave, but he didn’t have any legal right to use force,’ Howard began.

‘The government wants to make this case about, “Melo could have just left.” I’m sure he wishes he did. We all do,’ he continued.

Howard mentions that Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, confronted Anthony shortly before the stabbing, despite testimony showing no evidence of that occurrence.

‘Melo had an absolute right to defend himself,’ he said. ‘If you wait until its too late to defend yourself, it’s meaningless.’

He questioned if all witnesses who testified in the trial, including student athletes, were truthful in their recollection.

Metcalf’s family friend who was present in the audience was visibly upset during Howard’s testimony, shaking her head and mouthing ‘what is this’ as Howard repeated several falsehoods.

Anthony watched Howard intently as he spoke on behalf of his client.

Mike Howard continued closing arguments on Tuesday morning by including several claims that were discredited by the prosecution.

Howard alleged that Anthony did not run from the scene of the crime after the stabbing, after video surveillance footage and multiple witnesses called by the prosecution confirmed that he did.

Howard also claimed that Anthony was invited over to the Memorial High School tent by a fellow student, despite there being no evidence of that.

‘Why would he pick a fight with a kid that’s bigger than him?’ Howard said. ‘Austin and Anthony had never meet before. There’s no background,’ he continued.

‘It’s not about race. As much as people on the outside what to make it about that on one or the other. It’s not.’

On Tuesday morning, Karmelo Anthony’s lawyers asked the court to consider adding criminally negligent homicide to charging documents in addition to manslaughter.

In Texas, criminally negligent homicide occurs when a person causes the death of another through criminal negligence, but they did not have intent to kill.

The punishment range for criminally negligent homicide ranges from 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Karmelo Anthony’s extended family were spotted holding hands in a circle and praying ahead of closing arguments this morning in the teen’s murder trial.

Anthony’s family traveled to Collin County to be present for the two week trial. More of his family members were expected to be present to support, but both the Metcalf and Anthony families were permitted fifteen family members each in court.

There are 72 people sat in the audience total in court today.

A court spokesperson told the Daily Mail on Tuesday morning that Karmelo Anthony’s attorneys could ask the judge to consider manslaughter in charging documents that the jury will be given today.

Under Texas law, murder requires proof that a defendant intended to cause death or serious bodily injury.

Manslaughter, by contrast, applies when a person recklessly causes someone’s death without intending to kill.

In Texas, a manslaughter conviction is punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

Anthony, who is 19, is currently facing first degree murder charges and between five years to life in prison if convicted.

Dominque Alexander, the founder of the activist group Next Generation Action Network and a previous spokesperson for Karmelo Anthony’s family, gave a press conference outside the courthouse during Monday’s lunch break.

‘People have traveled from all across this country, and we thank you for that. But we remain to continue to ask you to do it in revolutionary peace. Do it as if your child was fighting for his life right now,’ he said.

‘Please, please. What we’ve seen, it seems like more attention has been given on what’s going on outside the court than what is going on in the court, and I have to say something.’

It was just after 10am on April 2, 2025, during what should have been a typical high school track meet at David Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Students were warming up and stretching, patiently waiting for the competition to resume after a paused due to heavy rain.

Spectators and some students took cover under a tent in the bleachers of Memorial High School.

The atmosphere was calm and uneventful – until it suddenly turned to bloodshed.

In a matter of seconds, then-17-year-old Karmelo Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, transforming a rain delay into a crime scene.

The Daily Mail was one of only two news organizations granted access to surveillance footage of the deadly incident – a killing that shocked the nation and ignited debates about race, privilege and the criminal justice system.

The jury will return in court this morning after being dismissed on Monday afternoon.

‘I’m not going to rush you, so we’ll just play it by ear tomorrow,’ the judge told the jury.

He instructed jurors to go home but not to discuss the case and not to go on social media. They will be sequestered after closing arguments tomorrow.

‘Don’t get on social media, they don’t know what the heck they’re talking about,’ Judge Roach said.