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Murder trial underway for Texas teenager accused of fatally stabbing a track athlete at school meet
Defense lawyers plan to argue self-defense as prosecutors say Anthony provoked the deadly confrontation and could face life in prison if convicted.
On Thursday, opening statements began in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, 19, charged with first-degree murder in the April 2025 fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet.
Investigators say the confrontation began when Anthony sat under a team tent designated for Metcalf's school; Anthony allegedly stabbed Metcalf in the chest, though he maintains he acted in self-defense after fearing for his life.
Defense attorneys argued prosecutors unlawfully excluded three African-American jurors, prompting the Next Generation Action Network to express "outrage." Judge John Roach ruled against the challenge, accepting prosecutors' explanation that dismissals were race-neutral because the individuals were educators.
To ensure a fair trial, Judge Roach banned cameras and audio recording inside the courtroom and established a security perimeter around courthouse grounds to prevent disruptions amid intense national attention and online threats.
If convicted, Anthony faces five to 99 years to life in prison; jurors must now decide whether his actions constitute murder or a justified response to an imminent threat during the two-week trial.