New trial sought in Texas track meet killing as new details emerge

Attorneys for Karmelo Anthony are pushing for a new trial, asserting that crucial evidence was improperly withheld during his conviction for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. Anthony, now 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing, which occurred last year near Dallas.

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All of us wanted the temperature on this, so to say, to be turned down.

The defense's argument centers on an agreement between the prosecution and defense to hold back evidence that could have further inflamed racial tensions and death threats surrounding the case. Anthony is Black, and Metcalf was white. While both sides initially told jurors the tragedy was not race-related, social media amplified the incident in racial terms. Evidence that Anthony had fantasized about stabbing someone and that Metcalf had a history of using racist language was not presented at trial.

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Everything was done off the record, at an astonishing clip.

During a hearing, defense attorney Russell Wilson argued that a "shadow docket" and an "off-the-record" agreement between legal teams marred the original trial, limiting access to proceedings and character information. However, prosecutor Bill Wirskye maintains that Anthony received a fair trial, stating that his original attorneys agreed to all proceedings. Wirskye explained that he chose not to use the character evidence to focus on the events leading up to the stabbing, asserting that witnesses confirmed Anthony committed the act and it was not self-defense. He also noted that evidence showing Anthony's obsession with weapons and his anger on the day of the meet was withheld.

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He went there that day spoiling for a fight.