This morning i wrote about the prosecution in the Karmelo Anthony trial resting its case on Saturday. The defense called a few witnesses Saturday afternoon and the trial resumed this morning with more defense witnesses. I anticipated the trial would go on for a couple more days but it looks like I overestimated the defense case. After calling just six witnesses, the defense rested its case today.
Today's defense case started with the calling of an eyewitness from Anthony's high school who said it had been raining that day and his track team were sheltering in a dugout. Eventually the rain let up and the team went onto the field to start warming up for their events. But when the rain started up again the team scattered. That was when Karmelo Anthony went to the Memorial High tent. His school had arrived late by bus and had a tent with them but never set it up. The defense witness wasn't under the tent when the stabbing happened but was nearby and saw Anthony get pushed followed by a lot of loud shouting.
The witness said Austin started pulling up his shirt, saying he had been stabbed. He said some people were trying to help him while others stayed frozen. He said he saw Karmelo running away from the scene, which he described as a "light jog."
He told the jury that he saw Karmelo crying and that a coach was comforting him and holding him. The witness said the best way to describe Karmelo's demeanor was "distraught." He recalled hearing Karmelo say, "I told him not to touch me."
On cross examination, the witness admitted that his memory about some things had been wrong.
The witness told the jury that he recalled saying that Karmelo was "surrounded" before the stabbing. He acknowledged that after seeing the video, he knew that Karmelo was not actually surrounded prior to stabbing Austin Metcalf, and that he was only surrounded after the stabbing.
The witness told the jury that he had never brought a knife to a track meet, that he had never been under another team's tent, and that if he was under another team's tent, he would leave if he was asked to.
Once again, this testimony from a defense witness undermines the defense claim that the Memorial High team were ganging up on and threatening Anthony prior to the stabbing.
A police officer was called to the stand and he testified that carrying a knife under 5.5 inches was legal in California though it was against school rules at the track meet.
Finally, the defense called another teenage witness. This witness had claimed that after the push he saw Anthony swing back, but under cross examination his story fell apart.
Howard and the witness discussed whether the "kid that got hit... came back with a swing motion." The witness agreed that he said this, but said he has a hard time remembering if that's what actually happened because the incident was a long time ago...
[Prosecutor Bill] Wirskye questioned the witness's memory, asking if the witness was "kind of just guessing" regarding some of his statements.
After some discussion over whether Austin's contact with Karmelo was a "push, punch, or jab," Wirskye asked the witness to reenact the contact.
The witness appeared confused and repeatedly said, "I don't know."
Just before 11 am the court took a brief recess. Testimony was expected to resume shortly but at 11:15 the Judge announced an early lunch break that would go until 12:30. At the time, the speculation was that a decision about whether or not Karmelo Anthony would testify in his own defense was being made.
The judge has ordered an unexpected and lengthy lunch break following sidebar discussions with attorneys over something private. This would be the point of the trial where the defendant would likely testify if they are going to. So when we return to court at 12:30 will Karmelo…
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 8, 2026
However, instead of returning at 12:30 after the already long break, the jury and reporters were not allowed back in for another 90 minutes with no explanation.
Court was scheduled to resume at 12:30 in the Karmelo Anthony murder trial. It's almost 2pm and we are still waiting to go back into the courtroom with no explanation from the judge or attorneys who are inside. Lots of speculation from the court watchers that I won't go into. But…
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 8, 2026
When the trial did resume after 2 pm it was only so the defense could rest. Karmelo Anthony decided not to take the stand and his defense only called 6 total witness amounting to less than a full day of testimony.
#KarmeloAnthony trial
— MaryAnn Martinez (@MaryAnnreports) June 8, 2026
Defense just rested
State closes evidence
Defense closes evidence
We will hear closing arguments in the morning and then jury will be sequestered after that.
Sarah Fields described today's defense effort as "abysmal."
I’m going to be honest: the defense was abysmal.
— Sarah Fields (@SarahisCensored) June 8, 2026
The few witnesses called to the stand today either could not remember key details or simply did not see what actually happened. Their testimony was thoroughly challenged during cross-examination by Bill Wirsky. The defense…
I’m going to be honest: the defense was abysmal.
The few witnesses called to the stand today either could not remember key details or simply did not see what actually happened. Their testimony was thoroughly challenged during cross-examination by Bill Wirsky. The defense presented no additional evidence beyond witnesses who were unable to confirm the long-standing claim that Karmelo Anthony was “attacked” - a claim that has circulated since the beginning of this case.
There were also persistent rumors that the Metcalf brothers were “bullies.” No evidence was presented to support those claims. In fact, the testimony painted a very different picture. More than 20 witnesses called by the prosecution consistently described Austin and Hunter as leaders, role models, “their brothers”...
I do not foresee this jury taking more than a day to reach a verdict.
Court will resume tomorrow for closing arguments. Unlike opening arguments, which were limited to just 20 minutes, these could be longer. Still, it seems likely the case will be given to the jury by tomorrow afternoon.
The case for self-defense is incredibly weak. The evidence from the witnesses who were under the tent all suggests that Anthony was escalating and making threats and Metcalf was declining to fight. When he did shove Anthony to get him to leave, it was a push not even a punch. Anthony's immediate response was to puncture Metcalf's sternum and his heart with a 3 1/2" blade. He then tossed the knife and ran away. Multiple teens at the scene said what they saw was not self-defense but murder. No one contradicted that directly.
I'm sure there will be some hesitation by a jury to send a 19-year-old to prison for life, even when it's obvious he's guilty. But I think Fields is correct that this could be over tomorrow afternoon after just a couple hours of deliberation. If it goes beyond Wednesday morning there is a problem with the jury.
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