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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:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:42

Whatareyoudoingherehun · 11/06/2026 15:39

On what basis are people saying it isn't murder? Or that he shouldn't go to prison?

Because he is black and the victim was white and bigger than him, and pushed him to get him out of the tent. Apparently if someone puts their hands on you, you can kill them 🙄 Even if they have been telling you to go away and that they don't want to fight you. And you were walking around with a concealed knife and saying 'touch me and see what I will do'

OP posts:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:39

steff13 · 11/06/2026 15:35

The vast majority of Americans agree he's a murderer. It's the vocal minority that disagrees.

I hope so! I can't understand how anyone could think he should not have been convicted of murder. Apparently the victim was saying, 'I am not going to fight you.' So it could hardly be self-defence from KA.

OP posts:
Whatareyoudoingherehun · 11/06/2026 15:39

On what basis are people saying it isn't murder? Or that he shouldn't go to prison?

steff13 · 11/06/2026 15:35

The vast majority of Americans agree he's a murderer. It's the vocal minority that disagrees.

Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:34

floppybit · 11/06/2026 15:24

I’m interested in this as I think I must be missing something, I can’t understand what basis people are protesting against KAs prison sentence. I actually feel incredibly sorry for both sets of parents, two families have been devastated by this, but I can’t see that there’s been a miscarriage of justice.

This is what I mean. Its just truly insane. Its a really sad state of racial politics in USA that this young men who chose to carry a nice to an athletic event, chose not to walk away, who chose to speak aggressively, who was dealing with people telling him to leave rather than threatening him, and who chose to stab someone in the chest, is regarded as a victim not a murderer. Talk about bloody DARVO.

I feel really sorry for the victim's family having to watch this cruel lack of humanity for their murdered son.

OP posts:
Neutralnames · 11/06/2026 15:31

araiwa · 11/06/2026 15:09

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

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.

OP posts:
floppybit · 11/06/2026 15:24

I’m interested in this as I think I must be missing something, I can’t understand what basis people are protesting against KAs prison sentence. I actually feel incredibly sorry for both sets of parents, two families have been devastated by this, but I can’t see that there’s been a miscarriage of justice.

araiwa · 11/06/2026 15:09

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