The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony has entered a critical new phase, with prosecutors resting their case on Saturday after calling 21 witnesses over three grueling days of testimony — including teen eyewitnesses, law enforcement officers, and a medical examiner who delivered some of the most harrowing testimony of the week. The defense has now begun presenting its own case as the courtroom drama surrounding one of the most racially charged and closely watched trials in recent American memory continues to unfold at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas.
Background: What Led to the Trial
Anthony, now 19, is accused of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old student-athlete, during a Frisco Independent School District track meet on April 2, 2025. The two teens attended different schools and did not know each other before an altercation broke out at Kuykendall Stadium. Metcalf later died at the hospital, and Anthony was arrested and charged with murder.
The case has been marred by controversy, racial tension, and threats, drawing national attention — particularly on social media. Outside the courthouse during jury selection, demonstrators held signs and waved flags, including a small group of about a half-dozen white nationalists. The judge responded by imposing tight security measures and issuing strict rules for media and the public, citing concerns that unrestricted access could compromise courtroom security, juror privacy, and the defendant's right to a fair trial. He notably prohibited live streaming and any audio or video recording.
Jury Selection and a Notable Absence
The murder trial began with jury selection on June 1 in Collin County. The composition of the jury itself became a flashpoint. The pool of roughly 500 prospective jurors was narrowed down to 12 jurors and six alternates — with no Black jurors selected. That outcome drew criticism from observers and added yet another layer of racial controversy to a case that has been entangled in race-related debate since the very beginning.
Opening Statements: Two Competing Narratives
When the trial opened in earnest on Thursday, June 4, the two sides drew starkly different pictures of what happened under that stadium tent more than a year ago.
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the jury that Metcalf was killed in a "sneak, surprise attack" during the track meet, calling the act a "senseless murder." "He didn't want a fight," Wirskye said of Metcalf, arguing that Anthony's actions were not self-defense.
The defense presented the opposite narrative. Defense attorney Mike Howard said that Metcalf made the first contact, arguing: "In that split second, Melo has a decision to make: How and when to act. Self-defense is useless if you wait too late to defend yourself. … He reacts in a split second of fear, chaos."
One of the most important pieces of evidence presented during opening statements was surveillance footage from the stadium during the attack, which jurors watched — a grainy video of a tent in the bleachers and Anthony running away.
Teen Eyewitnesses Take the Stand
Some of the most powerful testimony during the prosecution's case came from teenage witnesses who were present at the track meet that day.
One witness, not named since he was 17 at the time and a fellow track athlete, told jurors that he and Metcalf both asked Anthony to leave a team tent repeatedly on the day of the stabbing. Anthony refused to leave and engaged in a prolonged verbal confrontation, the witness testified. The teen told jurors that no group of students ever "ganged up" on Anthony.
The teen recalled Anthony telling Austin, "Touch me and find out," and described both teenagers as angry, though he characterized Anthony as the one provoking the situation. He said Austin eventually pushed Anthony, after which Anthony pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed Austin in the chest. The teen told jurors that he and other students initially thought the knife was a "bluff" and did not expect Anthony to actually use it. He said he heard Metcalf say "Oh my God" before collapsing.
Another witness called by the defense told a slightly different story. A 17-year-old male student from Frisco Memorial returned to the stand and said he had called 911. When the prosecutor asked him who he believed was in the right, the teen answered: "I think Karmelo was in the wrong." When asked whether Anthony provoked the confrontation, he answered, "Yes."
Graphic Medical Testimony
The most gripping testimony of the trial's third day came from the medical examiner. The judge warned the courtroom that the information would be graphic, prompting Metcalf's family to leave the room. Collin County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Elizabeth Ventura testified that Metcalf was stabbed through the heart.
Earlier in the week, prosecutors had played body camera footage of paramedics trying to save Austin Metcalf from his fatal stab wound. The footage showed paramedics giving Austin CPR after the stabbing — he was unresponsive on the ground as they worked. It was hard for Austin's parents to watch, and they broke down in tears and were held by family members while the footage played.
Bodycam Footage and Anthony's Own Words
A school resource officer's bodycam showed Karmelo Anthony saying shortly after the incident, "He put his hands on me, I told him no to." That footage has been central to both the prosecution's and the defense's competing theories of the case, with each side interpreting Anthony's words differently.
Where Things Stand
The prosecution rested after calling 21 witnesses. The defense has now begun presenting its case. The trial continued Saturday for almost nine hours with about a dozen witnesses, many of whom broke down in tears while testifying.
Anthony's defense says the straight-A student was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Austin Metcalf, and is expected to lean heavily into that argument as the case continues into the coming week.
With the defense now in control of the proceedings and closing arguments still ahead, the trial is expected to continue into next week before the case is handed to the jury. The verdict — whatever it may be — is certain to reverberate far beyond the Collin County courthouse.