Karmelo Anthony found guilty, sentenced to 35 years in prison

“Today, justice was served. A year ago, when this senseless murder unfolded, I said that it had struck a deep nerve in Collin County and far beyond. I asked our community to ignore all the noise and instead by levelheaded and patient as the process worked. And today, the process delivered accountability. We are grateful to this jury, and we are grateful that the good citizens of Collin County had an opportunity to weigh in on this case,” said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. “This verdict sends a clear message. Violence like this won’t be tolerated in our Collin County community. And we remain committed to protecting our school and standing with victims and their families.”

8:15 p.m. Karmelo Anthony taken to prison

The court was adjourned and Anthony was led out of the courtroom.

8:10 p.m. Hunter Metcalf asks Anthony to look him in the eye

Hunter Metcalf, the victim’s twin brother, asked Anthony to look him in the eye and said “I would really respect that.”

He said he’s been trying to learn how to forgive. He’s chosen God and is trying to understand why his brother and best friend was taken from the world.

“Now I want everything taken from you,” he told Anthony. “You took everything from me. I wake up every morning and his door is still shut.”

8 p.m. Metcalf’s dad reacts to verdict

Jeff Metcalf, the victim’s father, called his son a friend, a leader, and a true warrior.

“Since the day he first grabbed my finger, he had my heart with it,” he said.

He talked about the joy he felt while watching both of his sons on the field at the same time. He also talked about a scholarship the family started in Metcalf’s memory.

Jeff Metcalf also called the public response to his son’s murder sickening. He said he’s been the target of six swatting calls and Metcalf’s mother has been targeted twice.

“With a gag order, I can’t defend myself when people want to tear down my son’s memory. That time is over!” he said. “I said from Day 1 this was never about race. It’s about right and wrong. We are all humans. We all bleed the same color. You will face those consequences starting today.”

He also spoke directly to Anthony. He said he’s forgiven him but is relieved the truth and facts have been determined.

“You failed your parents, yourself, and society. You don’t belong in this community,” he said. “You can’t look me in the eyes, but you can stab my f–ing son?!”

7:55 p.m. Metcalf’s mom addresses Karmelo Anthony

Megan Metcalf, the victim’s mother, talked about raising two energetic, loving souls.

“Now I only have videos and memories of his laugh,” she told Anthony.

She talked about the morning of the track meet. She said she packed her son a snack and gave him a hug without knowing it would be the last time she’d ever feel his arms around her.

“You may have been given a sentence of 35 years. You should feel lucky. I’ve been sentenced to a lifetime without my son,” she said.

7:50 p.m. Metcalf’s aunt speaks

Metcalf’s aunt was the first to address Anthony for victim impact statements. She said April 2, 2025 is a day she’ll never forget. The call from her sister, Metcalf’s mom, still haunts her.

“The impact of his death is permanent,” she said. “We will never know what he could have been.”

She said her heart breaks for Metcalf’s twin brother.

“Why could you not have just left?” she asked. “Reporters will move to other stories. For our family, this is not a story. It is a reality forever.”

7:30 p.m. Karmelo Anthony sentenced to 35 years

The jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole after half that time is served.

He faced anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison. Jurors could have also found that he acted under sudden pᴀssion. That would have limited his punishment to just 20 years.

7:05 p.m. Sentence verdict reached

Jurors reached a sentencing verdict after about 2 hours and 20 minutes of deliberating.

The courtroom was full while everyone waited for the jury to return. The Metcalf family and Anthony’s grandmother were spotted inside the courtroom.

Family members were expected to give impact statements immediately after the sentence was read.

6:45 p.m. Arrest outside the courthouse

A man wearing a pink tie and suspenders was arrested outside the Collin County courthouse for reportedly ᴀssaulting another man, according to witnesses in the crowd.

FOX 4’s Amelia Jones reported the atmosphere outside the courthouse was starting to get tense.

6:15 p.m. Jury orders dinner

Jurors placed an order for dinner while continuing deliberations.

4:47 p.m. Jury deliberating Karmelo Anthony’s sentence

Jurors began deliberating Anthony’s sentence.

A spokesperson for the court said they will be allowed to continue deliberating into the evening. There will be another 20-minute warning once they reach a verdict.

After the sentencing verdict is read, jurors will be dismissed and Metcalf’s family will be allowed to give victim impact statements.

If the decision is reached before 11 p.m., there will be a news conference with statements from attorneys. If it’s after 11 p.m., that news conference will happen on Wednesday.

4:30 p.m. An act of sudden pᴀssion

Collin County ᴀssistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye told jurors that for sudden pᴀssion, the burden of proof is now on the defense. He said it should not be considered because sudden pᴀssion is “directly caused by or arising out of provocation by the individual killed.”

“The person doing the provoking was Karmelo Anthony,” he said.

Wirskye showed jurors more pH๏τos of Metcalf and encouraged them to think about the scale of justice. He said Metcalf’s family has already received a life sentence of lost void in heart and home.

“Whether you like it or not, mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent,” he said. “It’s up to you to determine how we in Collin County respond to senseless violence.”

4:20 p.m. Defense gives closing arguments in punishment phase

Defense attorney Mike Howard told jurors he knows that this is never an easy decision.

“We respect your verdict. That is what living in our society is. We respect your role,” he said. “Anyone who puts a number on a life doesn’t understand how hard your job is and how important your role is. I know it is a heavy burden, a heavy weight.”

Howard asked jurors to consider both sides, follow the law, and follow their hearts. He encouraged them to consider that Anthony acted with sudden pᴀssion.

Texas defines sudden pᴀssion as pᴀssion that is the result of provocation from the person who was killed. It’s a pᴀssion that arises at the time of the offense. It does not mean that jurors are blaming Metcalf. It’s the pᴀssion that arose in that split second.

Howard said even though self-defense may not apply, he told the jury they could find that Anthony reacted in a moment when his mind had not had time to process and calm down.

“Decisions in the heat of the moment are different from decisions after cool reflection,” he said. “If he felt terror rendered him incapable of cool reflection, sudden pᴀssion applies.”

He also encouraged them to consider Anthony’s age.

4:05 p.m. Prosecutors give closing arguments in punishment phase

ᴀssistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell told jurors they are the product of the community coming together. While deliberating Anthony’s sentence, he encouraged them to remember that Metcalf was someone’s son and someone’s brother.

“In a minute, you’ll hear a lot about the age of the defendant,” he said. “I’m going to ask you to think about his age, but also consider the age of the victim in this case. Nothing you do will take more from Karmelo Anthony than he took from the Metcalfs. Anthony will still be part of his family, learn new interests, get married, have children.”

Prosecutors shared pH๏τos of Metcalf on the ground with coaches doing CPR while others were praying on the track.

“We should pray for healing too. How do we do it? Not through vengeance. It’s not about leniency either,” Mitchell said. “We trust you jurors will hold people accountable.”

He reminded them that there will be bleachers and baseball fields in Collin County tonight filled with families watching their kids. In a few months, they’ll be watching football. He said Collin County is a community where people move to raise their kids because it feels safe. He encouraged them to do their job to keep it safe.

4 p.m. Instructions for the jury

The judge gave jurors instructions.

“You have found the defendant guilty. It is now your duty to ᴀssess his punishment,” Judge John Roach said.

The issue of sudden pᴀssion was raised. If they determine there was sudden pᴀssion, they may not sentence him to more than 20 years. If they decide there was no sudden pᴀssion, they can sentence him to life.

Sudden pᴀssion is caused by provocation by the person who was killed. Adequate cause is a cause that would commonly produce rage in an ordinary person.

Anthony will be eligible to have his sentence reduced by parole after he has served half of that sentence or 30 years, whichever is less.

3:30 p.m. Recess

The court was in recess while attorneys and the judge worked on instructions for jurors to deliberate on Anthony’s punishment. Murder carries a sentence ranging from five to 99 years in prison.

2:50 p.m. Karmelo Anthony’s mom asks jurors to show mercy

Attorneys waived the right to give opening statements in the punishment phase of the trial, so the first witness was called to the stand.

Kayla Hays, Anthony’s mother, testified that her son is very sorry for what he did. She asked jurors to show him mercy.

Under cross-examination, prosecutors asked Hays if she still loves her son. She, of course, replied yes.

“Regardless of what happens, you realize he will still get to be part of your life?” the prosecutor asked.

“Yes, I do,” she said.

Anthony cried as his mom testified. She was the only witness the defense called. Prosecutors did not call any witnesses.

2:45 p.m. Karmelo Anthony sentencing

Jurors were dismissed for a break before the sentencing phase of the trial.

2:30 p.m. Guilty of murder

Jurors found Anthony guilty of murder after deliberating for about 3 hours.

Metcalf mother, father, and twin brother were in the courtroom when the verdict was read. So were Anthony’s parents. The judge had warned them against outbursts, saying anyone who had an outburst would be held in contempt of court.

Outside the courthouse, many people in the crowd groaned after hearing the verdict. But they remained calm and peaceful.

Mychal Jeter, a man who was part of the crowd, shared his thoughts.

“This is a no-win situation on either side. Either way it goes, there’s no win in this,” he said. “You have a child that is not going to be here anymore. God bless his family. And to the family who’s going through this situation with their son, it’s unfortunate.”

1:45 p.m. Karmelo Anthony verdict

A verdict has been reached. The court will resume at 2:05 p.m.

12 p.m. Crowd gathers outside the courthouse

There is already a crowd of about 100 people gathered outside the Collin County courthouse waiting to hear news of a verdict.

Jury consultant Alison Richardson provided some insight into the questions the jury may be asking during their deliberations.

“It’s been my experience that juries take this very seriously,” Richardson said. “They probably went back to the jury room, and they’re reading through the charges, and they may take an initial vote to kind of see where everyone’s standing, or they may read through it first, and that will help them decide how they can consider all the information most efficiently.”

The judge has instructed jurors not to discuss the facts of the case until now. So, they’re just now gauging how the others are feeling.

Richardson believes the defense did a good job of explaining why Anthony was sitting under the Memorial tent. But they never explained why he showed up to the stadium with a knife.

“And you know, the fact that he didn’t testify and give any explanation for it is probably something the jury will consider,” she said.

Last, she said the fact that so many eyes have been on this case could be a good thing. It means the jury will take their job more seriously.

“Most juries are very serious when they deliberate at a trial. That’s been my experience. I think they will deliberate this case with the utmost seriousness and intentionality,” she said.

11:30 a.m. Criminal defense attorney weighs in

Dallas criminal defense attorney Russell Wilson has been following the case closely.  FOX 4 asked him whether the self-defense claim is still valid after Anthony was heard saying, “Touch me and see what happens.”

“I think you can still make the self-defense claim off of, ‘Touch me and let’s see what happens.’ I think you have to just kind of, if you’re the defense, you’re saying, this is your warning to the person to not engage with me and that if you do, I will defend myself. And so, I don’t think that language necessarily limits. One could say, you know, as the state did that this is provocative language, that you’re inviting the contact by saying,  ‘Touch me and see what happens.’ But I think the defense would be arguing, no, this is, you know, defensive language to try to discourage the person from touching him,” he said.

Wilson said he wasn’t surprised that Anthony did not take the stand. He believes the defense is relying on the police body camera video to show that Anthony was remorseful for his conduct and compliant after the stabbing.

When asked how long the verdict might take, Wilson said the judge’s order to sequester them will likely play a role in how quickly they come to a decision.

“There’s a preference for most folks to be able to sleep at their own homes and engage with their own families and loved ones, he said. “So I think that might be sitting in the back of the jury’s mind, that if we don’t reach a verdict today or certainly by close of business. And then they worked through on Saturday as well. So, the pace has been more faster, I guess, than necessarily most trials.”

11 a.m. Jury deliberations begin

The jury headed into deliberations.

They must decide Anthony’s guilt or innocence on the charges of murder or manslaughter. Did he commit murder by acting knowingly or intentionally, or did he commit manslaughter by acting recklessly with a conscious disregard for life?

10:20 a.m. Prosecutors give closing arguments

Collin County ᴀssistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye, in closing, told jurors that Anthony’s words were not a warning, they were a threat. Anthony could have easily yelled for a coach if his life were in danger.

“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.”

The ᴀssistant DA said everything could be boiled down to one sentence.

“You don’t get to meet a shove with a stab, especially if you provoke the shove,” Wirskye said. “That equals murder, plain and simple. Unjustified murder.”

Wirskye reminded jurors that intentional murder and an act that is clearly dangerous both equal murder. A manslaughter verdict would require 12 jurors to acquit Anthony of murder.

He said the self-defense argument does not apply for the following reasons:

• Provoke: You do not get to provoke an encounter then when someone touches you, use ᴅᴇᴀᴅly force. If you find he provoked it, self-defense is off the table.
• Force Disparity: You can meet shove with shove, ᴅᴇᴀᴅly force with ᴅᴇᴀᴅly force. You can’t meet shove with a stab. The defense also argued that Metcalf and his twin brother were big, but Anthony is small. The prosecutor said that argument does not work in this case. You don’t get to kill someone because they are bigger than you. That is the law.
• Reasonable Belief: This is a belief held by an ordinary and prudent person. What would an ordinary and prudent person do? Any reasonable person would not have plunged a knife into Metcalf or met a shove with a stab.
• Immediately Necessary: ᴅᴇᴀᴅly force has to be immediately necessary. Where was the immediate necessity to plunge a knife into an unarmed man, the prosecutor asked.

Wirskye reminded jurors that Anthony did not show anyone the knife in warning. Instead, he reached into his bag and opened it in secret.

The prosecutor also pointed to Anthony’s actions after the stabbing. He ran away and then slowed down to blend in. Wirskye said that shows a guilty mindset.

He said Anthony looked suspicious and was serious about not moving.

“He had it in his mind what he was going to do,” Wirskye said.

He reminded the jury that multiple people testified Metcalf did not want to fight. They heard Metcalf say, “I’m not going to fight you.” They also heard Anthony tell him, “If you want me to move, you’re going to have to move me.” And, “Touch me and see what happens.”

“He used lethal force against nonlethal force,” Wirskye said.

The prosecutor called the case a tragedy for everyone involved. People’s lives were completely changed. But Wirskye said everything that happened was because of the decisions that Anthony made. He said it’s not a tragedy for a man with an intentional, conscious act.

Anthony kept the knife hidden. Wirskye called it intentional, a crime, and murder.

“It is your duty to follow your oath and hold this young man accountable for this senseless murder and send a message this will not be tolerated in our community,” Wirskye said.

9:45 a.m. Defense gives closing arguments

The prosecution waived the right to open and chose to respond to the defense.

Defense Attorney Mike Howard told jurors that Metcalf did not have the right to use force to eject Anthony from the Memorial High School team tent. He was in a public place.

He said it was raining and dark with clouds coming in. In Texas, it pours, stops, and then pours again. It’s reasonable to think, “I better get out of this rain.” Even when it stops, you think, ‘Well, I don’t know.”

He encouraged jurors to consider the facts from Anthony’s shoes.

“You are trying to get out of the rain, think I know people at Memorial. One of them says, ‘Hey man, come on in. Crazy weather, huh?’” Howard said.

He reminded the jurors that it’s common for people to walk around during track meets to see their friends. He said it was reasonable for Anthony to be confused because he was talking to a friend. He said it was reasonable for him to wonder why Metcalf was mad or think he was joking.

“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.”

Howard called the hit, shove, or push that Metcalf gave Anthony an unlawful use of force. He said that gave Anthony the right to defend himself against that force. He also reminded the jurors that Metcalf was 6 feet 1 inch tall and 213 pounds while Anthony is 5 feet 7 inches tall and about 130 pounds.

“How do you know when it’s too late to defend yourself?” he asked. “You are justified to use ᴅᴇᴀᴅly force when you believe it is immediately necessary.”

In response to the testimony from the teenage witnesses, Howard said there was unconscious bias. Sometimes people convince themselves of something different.

The defense attorney said after the stabbing, Anthony was crying, emotional, hysterical, and distraught. He did not expect Metcalf to die.

Howard also reminded jurors that a 3-inch knife is against school policy but not illegal to have at the stadium.

“In that split second of chaos, you must put yourself in his shoes,” Howard told jurors.

He said Anthony had no motive to harm Metcalf other than he felt his life was in danger.

“Why would he provoke a fight with a kid so much bigger, with a twin so much bigger, with other teammates?” the attorney asked. “It’s not about race as much as people outside want to make it.”

There’s no evidence Anthony did anything other than think he was defending himself in that split second, Howard said.

The attorney also pointed out the medical examiner’s testimony that the stab wound was lateral and not vertical, meaning it was awkward and defensive, not intentional.

“You don’t intentionally stab someone like this,” Howard said.

Howard said the law required jurors to put themselves in Anthony’s shoes. He had a friend under the tent. He mouthed off when someone told him to leave, but he’s a 17-year-old dumb kid. Now they’re all angry and he fears he’ll be beaten. He put his hand in the bag as a warning and told them not to touch him.

“I don’t think we will ever know exactly what happened, even though you have 15 Memorial kids with convoluted stories, even though they say it’s not self-defense,” Howard said.

He encouraged jurors to hold the state to the burden of ruling out reasonable doubt.

9:25 a.m. Jurors to consider manslaughter charge

The defense asked Judge John Roach to include criminally negligent homicide as an alternative to manslaughter in the list of charges jurors can consider. The judge denied that request. Jurors will be able to decide guilt or innocence on the charges of murder or manslaughter.

For murder, one acts knowingly or intentionally. Did Anthony act knowingly or intentionally to kill Metcalf? For manslaughter, one acts recklessly with conscious disregard for life. Did Anthony act recklessly to cause Metcalf’s death?

In reading the instructions to the jury, the judge reminded them that the burden of proof rests on the state and never shifts to the defendant. The prosecution is not required to prove beyond all possible doubt, rather beyond all reasonable doubt.

The jury cannot consider the defendant’s decision to not testify.

9 a.m. Court resumes

The doors to the courtroom opened and everyone made their way through security.

When the trial resumes, the judge is expected to give jurors instructions on which charges they can consider. Attorneys will give closing arguments and then jurors will begin deliberations.

7 a.m. Signs outside the courthouse

A group set up signs in the parking lot of the Collin County courthouse in support of Anthony. As of 7 a.m. there were no signs supporting the Metcalf family.

Day 4: Defense rests, jury warnings issued as trial moves to closing arguments

The defense rested its case Monday afternoon in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, setting the stage for closing arguments Tuesday morning.

Following a three-hour afternoon delay, State District Judge John Roach dismissed the jury for the night with instructions to pack a bag for Tuesday in anticipation of sequestered deliberations. Roach issued a stern warning to jurors against using social media while the case is in their hands.

Before resting, the defense called its final witnesses Monday morning to focus heavily on a self-defense argument. A 17-year-old high school student testified he saw victim Austin Metcalf make physical contact with Anthony before the stabbing, and recalled seeing Anthony crying and distraught immediately afterward. The witness testified he heard Anthony say, “I told him not to touch me.” A second student witness, a 17-year-old football player, also testified to seeing a push or a punch before hearing onlookers scream that someone had been stabbed.

The defense also called Frisco police officer Beau Riey, who testified that carrying a knife with a blade under 5 inches is legal under Texas law. While possessing the pocketknife violated school district policy, Riey confirmed it was not an illegal weapon. Prosecutors declined to cross-examine him.

Legal observers note that Judge Roach will ultimately determine whether the jury charge will include lesser offenses. While Anthony is charged with murder—which requires intent—the jury may be allowed to consider manslaughter if they believe he acted recklessly rather than intentionally, or acquit him entirely if they find he acted in self-defense.

Outside the Collin County courthouse, the activist group Next Generation Action Network held a lunchtime news conference. Founder Dominique Alexander urged supporters to maintain “revolutionary peace,” noting that too much attention had shifted to activities outside the courtroom.

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Tuesday morning before the case is handed over to the jury.

Day 3 Recap: Prosecutors rest their case

The state rested its case Saturday in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony after calling 21 witnesses, handing momentum to the defense as testimonies shifted from the victim’s final moments to the casual culture of high school track meets.

Jurors earlier heard harrowing testimony from Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura, who detailed the “gaping,” fatal 2-inch stab wound to Austin Metcalf’s heart. Student witnesses from Memorial High School also took the stand, describing Anthony as the aggressor who provoked a confrontation and refused to leave their team’s tent before the stabbing.

The defense quickly launched its case by calling Anthony’s track coach and teammate, who testified that mingling under other schools’ tents during downtime was a common practice in the “organized chaos” of track meets. However, under cross-examination, defense witnesses conceded that a student would be expected to leave a tent if asked, and agreed there was no reason to bring a knife to a track meet.

Day 2 Recap: Teenage witnesses testify after jurors watch arrest, bodycam video

The state presented testimony from first responders, law enforcement, and several teenage eyewitnesses. A responding paramedic testified that Metcalf never regained consciousness, having been found with no pulse. School Resource Officer Eduardo Cortez recounted arresting Anthony, who was caught on body camera video stating, “I’m not alleged, I did it. He put his hands on me.” Law enforcement later recovered the weapon—a blood-stained 3.5-inch folding knife—and Anthony’s backpack from the stadium bleachers.

Multiple student witnesses from Memorial High School testified that Anthony was the aggressor. They stated that Anthony entered their team tent to escape the rain and refused multiple requests to leave. The situation quickly escalated as Anthony verbally provoked Metcalf, stating, “Touch me and see what happens.” Witnesses noted Anthony kept his hand hidden inside his backpack, warning that he had something. When Metcalf finally pushed or shoved Anthony’s shoulders, Anthony immediately stood up and stabbed him in the chest.

The defense focused heavily on a self-defense narrative, using cross-examination to highlight discrepancies between the students’ courtroom testimonies and their initial police statements. The defense established significant physical differences between the two boys, noting that Metcalf outweighed Anthony by 50 to 60 pounds.

Crucially, the defense emphasized the physical positioning during the altercation: Anthony was sitting down with his bag on his lap, surrounded by roughly 20 people in a crowded tent, while Metcalf and several teammates stood over him. Trial consultants note this spatial dynamic will be vital for the jury when evaluating the self-defense claim.

Day 1 Recap: Jurors watch video, listen to 911 calls

The prosecution and defense laid out two completely opposing narratives to the jury during their 20-minute opening statements. Collin County ᴀssistant DA Bill Wirskye called the incident a “provoked, unjustified murder,” arguing that Anthony entered a closed team tent uninvited, provoked a confrontation, and launched a “sneak attack” with a hidden knife before fleeing.

Wirskye explicitly noted that the case is not about race or self-defense. Conversely, defense attorney Mike Howard argued that Anthony acted out of a “split second of fear and chaos.” Howard described Anthony as an honor student working two jobs who remained seated until Metcalf and his twin brother confronted him, maintaining that Anthony used the knife strictly in self-defense because he felt cornered by a group turning on him.

Jurors viewed surveillance footage provided by Frisco ISD from multiple stadium angles. The video showed a figure identified as Anthony entering the Memorial High School team tent, followed by a brief scuffle and Anthony fleeing the scene as coaches and students gave chase.

Memorial High School track coach Robert Starr testified to the sacred nature of team tents, comparing them to a sports bench where you just do not go in uninvited. He became visibly emotional on the stand while describing the immediate aftermath of the stabbing.

The afternoon session turned deeply emotional as the prosecution played a chaotic 911 call from the scene. In the audio, Liberty High School football coach Joshua Rebmann, a military veteran who administered CPR, could be heard shouting, “Stay with me, Austin.”

The state capped the day with a powerful visual display, presenting the physical, blood-stained jacket that Rebmann used to apply pressure to Metcalf’s wound. Legal observers noted that displaying the bloody jacket right before adjournment left a staggering, lasting impression on the jury.

Jury Selection Recap: No Black jurors selected; defense raises racial challenge

A 12-person jury with six alternates was finalized Wednesday afternoon in a Collin County courtroom. The selection process resulted in a panel of 11 women and seven men. There are no Black jurors.

The final phase of jury selection grew tense when defense attorneys lodged a formal objection during the second round of strikes. The defense argued that the state improperly struck down three potential Black female jurors who were “similarly situated” to a white female juror allowed to remain on the panel.

Prosecutors strongly denied that race played a factor. ᴀssistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell clarified that all three women were struck because they listed their occupations as educators. Because the fatal incident occurred at a school-sponsored athletic function involving school-aged children, prosecutors seemingly did not want traditional educators on the panel.

State District Judge John Roach Jr. ultimately sided with the prosecution, allowing the strikes to stand. While one educator was successfully seated on the 12-person jury, she is an esthetician at a trade school and does not work with high school-aged children.

During jury selection, both sides were given one hour and 45 minutes to question potential jurors.

ᴀssistant DA Mitchell pressed the pool on whether they could listen to the evidence with an open mind and follow the law to render a verdict, even when dealing with a young defendant. The questioning took an unusual turn when Mitchell asked if race could affect anyone’s ability to determine guilt. After a handful of people admitted it could, Mitchell noted that in his entire career, he had never had to have such an explicit conversation about race with a jury panel. One Frisco ISD educator in the pool was excused after stating the case “hit too close to home.”

Howard, the defense attorney, immediately signaled that the entire trial would pivot on whether Anthony had the legal right to defend himself. Howard, who referred to his client by his nickname “Melo,” questioned the pool on whether they would penalize Anthony if he exercised his right not to testify. He also gauged their feelings on prison sentencing, noting the minimum threshold for a murder conviction is five years.