Defense attorneys for Karmelo Anthony, the now 19-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a fellow teen at a 2025 Frisco track meet, rested their case Monday after less than two days.
Witnesses for the defense began their testimony Saturday, with Anthony’s track coach among those testifying.
Testimony picked back up Monday with testimony from a police officer and students who were at the meet, including a 17-year-old student on the same football team as Anthony.
The student testified Anthony was “distraught” after the stabbing.
“I was hearing him say, ‘I told him not to touch me,’” the witness said.
Around 11:30 a.m., the court broke for lunch. It wasn’t until about 2:20 p.m. the court resumed.
Anthony’s parents could be seen entering and leaving the courtroom during that time.
Closing arguments begin Tuesday. Jurors will be sequestered in a hotel and return to court Wednesday if they can’t come to a verdict.
The case has drawn national attention and controversy over the role of race in the attack. Anthony is Black and victim Austin Metcalf was white.
None of the jurors are Black.
Supporters of Anthony demonstrated outside the courthouse even as the temperature rose above 90 degrees. Some also lined up outside the courthouse before 5 a.m. to sit in one of the courtroom’s limited public viewing seats.
Anthony faces up to life in prison if convicted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dylan Duke is KERA's Breaking News Reporter. Got a tip? Email Dylan Duke at dduke@kera.org.
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