A Texas judges refusal to grant a new trial to convicted killer Karmelo Anthony has prompted CNN host Don Lemon to lament that the now-19-year-old will have to serve a 35-year prison sentence.
According to The Post Millennial, Lemon opened his segment by telling viewers, Breaking and its complicated, so make sure you pay attention. Karmelo Anthony is not getting a new trial, before insisting, And after what came out of the court last week, I have questions. He highlighted a private, off-the-record agreement to keep the troubled youths backgroundsboth teenagersaway from the jury, noting that Austin Metcalf had allegations involving racial slurs, bullying, and assault. Karmelo had allegations involving threatening texts, stalking, and assault. None of that came in.
Lemon went on to stress defense complaints about the original proceedings, saying, And Karmelos former lawyer says that they had planned to put him on the stand, but all of this helped change that decision. So now the defense says the first trial was too controlled, too secretive, and unfair. He then underscored the judges decision and the length of the punishment: The judge said no. 35 years still stands. And Im still stuck on one thing: he was 17. 17 years old, and now he could spend most of his life in prison. That is a hell of a sentence for a teenager.
The case stems from an April 2025 incident in which Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet. Anthony had reportedly sat under another teams tent where Metcalf was located and refused to leave despite repeated requests, escalating tensions that ended in deadly violence.
Anthony claimed he acted in self-defense, but a jury rejected that argument and returned a guilty verdict after weighing the evidence. He was subsequently sentenced to 35 years in prison, a term that reflects Texas tougher stance on violent crime, even when the offender is a minor.
Seeking to overturn that outcome, Anthonys legal team argued that his rights had been violated and pressed for a new trial. The courts order was unequivocal: Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, the briefs, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined that the motion should be denied. It is therefore considered, ordered, and adjudged by the Court that the Motion for New Trial is denied.
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