A Texas judge has denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial in the 2019 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. The decision followed a two-day hearing where both prosecutors and Anthony’s new defense team presented further details of the case.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of murder in June. His former lawyers testified that a dispute over an unwritten agreement with prosecutors prevented him from taking the stand during the initial trial. Specifically, they argued that Anthony believed he would receive a more lenient sentence in exchange for not testifying against others involved in the incident, but prosecutors never formally confirmed this understanding. This lack of clarity, the defense argued, constituted ineffective counsel.
Newsmax reported the killing drew national attention and led to harassment of the families involved. While the judge denied the motion for a new trial, the details revealed during the hearing shed light on the circumstances surrounding Anthony’s initial defense and his decision not to testify.
No right-leaning outlets reported on the specifics of the defense's argument, only noting the denial of the new trial request.
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