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AIBU to think USA has gone crazy - Karmelo Anthony is a murderer not a victim

258 replies

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 14:32

From what I have read, Karmelo Anthony (who is black African American) took a concealed knife to a track event. When it started raining he ran to another team's tent to shelter. He was told to leave by a white athlete called Austin Metcalfe. KA refused saying ' 'Touch me and see what happens', According to one account I read he was repeatedly told to leave and replied the same way each time. Austin Metcalfe then pushed KA to get him to leave and KA pulled out the knife and stabbed AM in the chest, killing him.

Apparently sections of America are outraged that KA has now been convicted of murder. Possible sentence range in America is 5 to 99 years for this offence and he got 35 years.

I don't understand how this is not murder. In UK law if you can run away you must, and he didn't. In UK law if you kill someone when you could have run, you will be tried for murder.

KA took a knife. He could have left (even if he thought it was a dick move to ask him to leave when it was raining - you can't murder people for being dickish about their gazebo) but chose to not to, escalating the situation with threatening language and then stabbed a young man in the chest.

I just think something has gone terribly wrong in USA society where this man is treated as a victim, not the person who he killed, and this case is regarded as an injustice against him. I hope the UK does not go down this route.

OP posts:
PistolPacker · 11/06/2026 16:24

PolkaDotPorridge · 11/06/2026 16:24

It was an all white jury. That was unfair. The dead man was a bully. Below is a good article on it written by Dr Stacey Patton.

https://share.google/dvPS0FPvFf3la8cuO

Edited

Stop lying 🤥

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 16:24

Blimms · 11/06/2026 16:19

How rude. The PP was discussing what is happening in the UK. You said you don’t want the U.K. to go down that route and so it is entirely relevant to bring up the fact that our legal system is also not fit for purpose.

I am talking in this thread about the racialised social culture that has led some in the USA to think KA is a victim, not a killer.

Clearly I have no issues with the legal system in the USA in this case, as they reached what I clearly in my posts consider the right verdict. I do consider the USA system fit for purpose in this case. That is clear in my posts.

So yes, your tangent about the UK legal system not being fit for purpose is irrelevant in this thread, This thread is about racialised social cultures.

OP posts:
PolkaDotPorridge · 11/06/2026 16:24

It was an all white jury. That was unfair. The dead man was a bully. Below is a good article on it written by Dr Stacey Patton.

https://share.google/dvPS0FPvFf3la8cuO

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:24

I was giving context to show how a reasonable assessment of murder would work.

But here we have a different legal system, it might be more reasonable or not, but it’s still not relevant to American people in America, there is no connection to Britain or British people.

Gloriia · 11/06/2026 16:23

His supporters claim it was self defence as apparently pushing someone justifies stabbing the person. They claim it should be manslaughter as he hadn't gone there intending to kill him. Well hey guess what if you have a weapon and stab someone that is what happens.

His grabby family have made a fortune out of this. I really hope there's some legal process that means once found guilty then people cannot profit from their crimes.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:21

I hadn’t heard about this case until OP posted this, it’s going to create a lot of…….discussions.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 16:20

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:13

I think it’s this paragraph the poster is talking about. It doesn’t matter what happens in UK law, this was crime committed by an American in America.

I don't understand how this is not murder. In UK law if you can run away you must, and he didn't. In UK law if you kill someone when you could have run, you will be tried for murder.

I was giving context to show how a reasonable assessment of murder would work.

KA was convicted in America of murder, for a case any reasonable person would agree was murder, where he could have left and was repeatedly told to leave, but chose to stay and stab.

My post is clearly about how extremely racialised USA society has become that people see this murderer as a victim.

The only way he perhaps could be a victim if of the the family and culture he has grown up in which, perhaps, made this young man think he was justified in his murderous actions and could get away with them. A culture we are seeing amongst his defenders. But he sure as hell was not a victim of the man he murdered, and nor was he a victim of the court that convicted him.

OP posts:
Blimms · 11/06/2026 16:19

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:47

Thank you for your completely irrelevant contribution to the topic of this thread.

How rude. The PP was discussing what is happening in the UK. You said you don’t want the U.K. to go down that route and so it is entirely relevant to bring up the fact that our legal system is also not fit for purpose.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:19

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 16:14

No it wasn't. The jury was composed of hispanic, asian and white jurors. That's a mixed race jury.

Ok, I just read that, correct. This was the description in the Guardian…

After three days of juror selection, attorneys selected 12 jurors and six alternates for the trial, narrowed down from 600 initial summonses. None of the jurors are Black.
Defense lawyers accused prosecutors of improperly striking the only three remaining Black prospective jurors, according to a local NBC affiliate. The district judge John Roach, however, accepted the state’s explanation that they were removed because they are educators.

So three black teachers were specifically eliminated from the pool.

Jury seated in Karmelo Anthony murder trial a year after fatal track meet stabbing

A jury has been seated in the high-profile case against Karmelo Anthony in the April 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/jury-selection-continues-in-karmelo-anthony-murder-trial-a-year-after-fatal-stabbing-at-frisco-track-meet/4031584/

TomatoSandwiches · 11/06/2026 16:16

I believe the main reason for the discourse is because African Americans are more likely to be harshly sentenced over white people and even other POC for the same or similar crimes, which is actually a problem that should be addressed.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 16:14

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:10

Noooo it was an all white jury.

No it wasn't. The jury was composed of hispanic, asian and white jurors. That's a mixed race jury.

OP posts:
NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:13

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:31

Read my last paragraph again and you will see I am talking about the culture in USA around this, and not wanting the UK to become like this, rather than not wanting UK law over here.

I think it’s this paragraph the poster is talking about. It doesn’t matter what happens in UK law, this was crime committed by an American in America.

I don't understand how this is not murder. In UK law if you can run away you must, and he didn't. In UK law if you kill someone when you could have run, you will be tried for murder.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 11/06/2026 16:10

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:46

They are but it clearly was not and the mixed race jury did not think so either.

Noooo it was an all white jury.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 16:05

GoodkneeBadKnee · 11/06/2026 16:04

He killed someone and was found guilty. So what's your problem? Were you hoping he'd get off so you could start banging on about "two tier justice"?

Edited

Sorry, who is that directed at? It can't be directed at me, so who are you talking to?

OP posts:
GoodkneeBadKnee · 11/06/2026 16:04

He killed someone and was found guilty. So what's your problem? Were you hoping he'd get off so you could start banging on about "two tier justice"?

JudgeJ · 11/06/2026 16:01

araiwa · 11/06/2026 15:09

I don't understand any relevance of UK law to an event on a different continent

Nor do I which is why I never supported all the protests, knee bending etc when Flloyd was killed in anioher country but I suppost there is a difference which will influence some people's reaction.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:58

TheKittenswithMittens · 11/06/2026 15:56

In Texas, 35 years for Murder is a light sentence.

The maximum possible is 99 years. If he behaves in prison he will be out in 17 years, I think that will make him 35. He'll still have a life to lead unlike his victim.

OP posts:
TheKittenswithMittens · 11/06/2026 15:56

In Texas, 35 years for Murder is a light sentence.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:50

DreamyScroller · 11/06/2026 15:48

You've only just noticed?

No, but this just seems completely off the scale. Being outraged that a murderer is convicted. Its sick.

OP posts:
DreamyScroller · 11/06/2026 15:48

You've only just noticed?

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:47

Overtheatlantic · 11/06/2026 15:45

Hmmm last time I checked the UK was letting rapists go free. Two weeks ago in fact.

Thank you for your completely irrelevant contribution to the topic of this thread.

OP posts:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:46

XelaM · 11/06/2026 15:42

I haven't read up on the case, but I think his supporters are claiming it was self-defence?

They are but it clearly was not and the mixed race jury did not think so either.

OP posts:
PistolPacker · 11/06/2026 15:46

Yeah the comments on social media are unhinged.

They want “justice for Karmelo” though, even though he was the thug with the knife who used it because the other boy put his hand on his shoulder 😑

RIP Austin ❤️

Overtheatlantic · 11/06/2026 15:45

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 14:32

From what I have read, Karmelo Anthony (who is black African American) took a concealed knife to a track event. When it started raining he ran to another team's tent to shelter. He was told to leave by a white athlete called Austin Metcalfe. KA refused saying ' 'Touch me and see what happens', According to one account I read he was repeatedly told to leave and replied the same way each time. Austin Metcalfe then pushed KA to get him to leave and KA pulled out the knife and stabbed AM in the chest, killing him.

Apparently sections of America are outraged that KA has now been convicted of murder. Possible sentence range in America is 5 to 99 years for this offence and he got 35 years.

I don't understand how this is not murder. In UK law if you can run away you must, and he didn't. In UK law if you kill someone when you could have run, you will be tried for murder.

KA took a knife. He could have left (even if he thought it was a dick move to ask him to leave when it was raining - you can't murder people for being dickish about their gazebo) but chose to not to, escalating the situation with threatening language and then stabbed a young man in the chest.

I just think something has gone terribly wrong in USA society where this man is treated as a victim, not the person who he killed, and this case is regarded as an injustice against him. I hope the UK does not go down this route.

Hmmm last time I checked the UK was letting rapists go free. Two weeks ago in fact.

XelaM · 11/06/2026 15:42

I haven't read up on the case, but I think his supporters are claiming it was self-defence?