{"id":323761,"date":"2026-06-05T07:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T07:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/323761\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T07:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T07:26:12","slug":"karmelo-anthony-defense-prosecutors-wage-first-impression-war-as-emotions-rock-opening-of-trial-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/323761\/","title":{"rendered":"Karmelo Anthony defense, prosecutors wage first-impression war as emotions rock opening of trial: expert"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jurors in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial<\/a> heard a frantic 911 call, watched surveillance footage and listened to emotional testimony Thursday from coaches and trainers who tried to save Austin Metcalf after the Texas teenager was stabbed at a high school track meet.<\/p>\n

Anthony, 19, has pleaded not guilty to murder<\/a> in the April 2025 stabbing death of Metcalf and maintains he acted in self-defense. The case has drawn national attention and intense public scrutiny since the fatal encounter.<\/p>\n

Texas defense attorney and legal analyst Jeremy Rosenthal told Fox News Digital that the first day of testimony highlighted the central battle jurors will have to resolve \u2014 whether Anthony’s actions were criminal or legally justified as self-defense.<\/p>\n

“The defense is accepting part of the burden here because if they want the jury instructed on self-defense, they have to prove up that split-second statement,” Rosenthal said.<\/p>\n

Karmelo Anthony Trial Ignites Rival Camps That Threaten To Get In Jurors’ Heads In Track Meet Stabbing: Expert<\/a><\/p>\n

Rosenthal also noted that opening statements can have an outsized impact on jurors.<\/p>\n

Read On The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n

“Eighty percent of jurors make up their mind at opening statement and they never change it,” he said, citing trial advocacy studies.<\/p>\n

Controversy has engulfed the case, and tensions rose after a jury was selected on Wednesday with no Black jurors.<\/p>\n

\"Demonstrators<\/p>\n

Demonstrators show support for Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in Karmelo Anthony’s trial on June 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

(Fox News)\"Demonstrators<\/p>\n

Demonstrators showed support for Karmelo Anthony outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in his trial on June 1, 2026.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, supporters of both Anthony and Metcalf sparring in a shouting match outside the courthouse, holding signs, yelling profanities and antagonizing each other.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Crowds rally outside courthouse during Karmelo Anthony trial<\/p>\n

Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskyke called the stabbing a “provoked unjustified murder” and told jurors, “This case has nothing to do with race. This case is not self-defense.”<\/p>\n

Defense attorney<\/a> Mike Howard argued Anthony reacted in a “split second of fear and chaos” and urged jurors to focus on the evidence rather than the public narrative that has developed around the case.<\/p>\n

\"Courtroom<\/p>\n

Defense attorney Mike Howard delivers opening statements during Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial in a courtroom sketch from the Collin County courthouse.<\/p>\n

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Jurors viewed surveillance footage from multiple cameras<\/a> around Kuykendall Stadium and later listened to a 911 call placed in the moments after the stabbing.<\/p>\n

\"Karmelo<\/p>\n

Karmelo Anthony, 17, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Texas track star Austin Metcalf.<\/p>\n

The caller reported that CPR was underway and that an athlete had been stabbed and was losing consciousness.<\/p>\n

Train Attack Video Reignites Fury Over Withheld Footage Of Austin Metcalf Killing<\/a><\/p>\n

Nbc 5<\/a> reported that voices in the background could be heard urging Metcalf to keep fighting, while another person said, “There’s a lot of blood. He’s not breathing.”<\/p>\n

The outlet reported that Metcalf’s final gasp for air could be heard on the recording.<\/p>\n

Texas Track Meet Stabbing Suspect Told Austin Metcalf ‘See What Happens’ As Tent Dispute Turned Deadly: Docs<\/a><\/p>\n

As the call played, Metcalf’s family could be heard crying. Anthony had his eyes closed during most of the 7-minute call.<\/p>\n

Mourning Mother, Twin Brother Of Slain Texas Teen Speak Out: ‘Lost My Best Friend In The Blink Of An Eye’<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Courtroom<\/p>\n

A courtroom sketch depicts Karmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors view surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, track meet.<\/p>\n

Rosenthal said the surveillance footage could become one of the most important pieces of evidence presented during the trial.<\/p>\n

“In the 21st century, I think jurors really expect there to be some type of video evidence, either surveillance or cell phone,” he said.<\/p>\n

Texas Jury Returns Verdict In 2022 Stabbing Death Of High School Classmate: Report<\/a><\/p>\n

“You’ve got a bunch of teenagers and nobody seems to have any cellphone video of this, which is in some ways surprising,” he added. “A picture’s worth a thousand words.”<\/p>\n

WATCH: Heated exchanges erupt outside Karmelo Anthony murder trial<\/p>\n

Memorial High School<\/a> athletic trainer Tiffany Whiteaker testified that she rushed to help Metcalf and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.<\/p>\n

She said she\u00a0saw a commotion and heard screaming in the stands, and a student ran up to her saying,\u00a0“he stabbed him and threw the knife in the stands,” pointing at Anthony.<\/p>\n

\"karmelo<\/p>\n

Accused killer Karmelo Anthony walks out of jail after posting bond.<\/p>\n

Whitaker testified that she got in front of\u00a0Anthony,\u00a0put her hands up and told coach Vincent Hooper to not let him leave.<\/p>\n

She said she performed CPR and used an AED until paramedics arrived and Metcalf was taken to hospital, where he later died.<\/p>\n

Grieving Texas Father Speaks Out After Son Was Stabbed To Death At High School Track Meet<\/a><\/p>\n

The state later called Joshua Rebmann, an Army veteran<\/a> and football coach who was among the first adults to reach Metcalf.<\/p>\n

Rebmann used his military training to try to save the teen before concluding he would not survive.<\/p>\n

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“Stay with me, Austin. Stay with me, Austin,” he was heard saying in the background of the 911 call, FOX 4 reported.<\/a> “Come on, Austin. Come on, Austin.”<\/p>\n

Karmelo Anthony Family Rep Doubles Down On Attacking Austin Metcalf’s Father: ‘It’s Inappropriate’<\/a><\/p>\n

Jurors were shown the blood-stained jacket Rebmann used while trying to stop the bleeding.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Father speaks out after son was stabbed to death at track meet<\/p>\n

Follow Us On X<\/a><\/p>\n

Heritage High School coach Vincent Hooper testified that Anthony told him<\/a>, “He put his hands on me. I stabbed him.”<\/p>\n

Hooper also testified that Anthony became emotional after he warned him that if Metcalf died, he would have changed his life forever.<\/p>\n

“Well you know if he dies you change your life for the rest of your life,” Hooper said he told Anthony.<\/p>\n

“He won’t die,” Anthony replied, according to Hooper.<\/p>\n

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\"Courtroom<\/p>\n

Memorial High School track coach Robert Starr testifies during the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony in a courtroom sketch from Collin County, Texas.<\/p>\n

Memorial High School track coach Robert Starr became emotional while describing finding Metcalf wounded.<\/p>\n

“You just don’t go into someone else’s tent uninvited,” Starr testified, referring to team tents at track meets.<\/p>\n

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As testimony resumes Friday, Rosenthal said one of the key questions will be whether witnesses closest to the confrontation tell a consistent story.<\/p>\n

“I sort of view this case like a rock thrown into a pond,” Rosenthal said. “You’ve got the epicenter, and then you’ve got all the ripples out.”<\/p>\n

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“What’s going to be interesting is, what’s the one person who gets up there and goes against the grain and says something that nobody else has said?” he added.<\/p>\n

Additional witnesses are expected to testify Friday as prosecutors continue building their case and jurors continue weighing Anthony’s self-defense claim<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fox News’ Brooke Taylor, Sarah Alegre, and Peter Cuddihy contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Original article source:Karmelo Anthony defense, prosecutors wage first-impression war as emotions rock opening of trial: expert<\/a><\/p>\n