Karmelo Anthony defense rests without his testimony in stabbing trial

With closing arguments approaching Tuesday, Karmelo Anthony’s defense was heard without calling him to testify; The move comes as legal analysts question whether the self-defense claim will convince jurors.

Anthony is charged with murder in the April 2025 death of 17-year-old Memorial High School athlete Austin Metcalf, who was stabbed to death during a confrontation at a high school track meet in Texas. Anthony admits to stabbing Metcalf but claims he acted in self-defense.

Anthony’s defense rested its case on Monday, setting the stage for closing arguments when court resumes at 9 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The case gained national attention because of debates over Texas self-defense law, questions about race, conflicting narratives about what happened under the Memorial High School team tent, and demonstrations outside the Collin County courthouse.

Ritter: Defense faces uphill battle

As the defense trial draws to a close on Monday, an unexpected delay in hearings has fueled speculation about what’s going on behind the scenes.

DIDDY DEFENSE’S COURT STRATEGY IS A ‘CALCULATED RISK’: EXPERT

Prosecutors are shown sitting in a courtroom sketch during Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial in Collin County, Texas. (Pat Lopez)

Speaking on Fox News’ “The Story,” legal analyst Joshua Ritter suggested it’s possible Anthony and his attorneys were debating whether he should testify.

The departure of Karmelo Anthony (left) and Austin Metcalf. Anthony is accused of stabbing Metcalf to death during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. (FOX4; Jeff Metcalf)

“Maybe they’re talking to Karmelo Anthony about whether he wants to testify,” Ritter, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor, said Monday.

🔎Do you know something we should look into?

📩 Send story tips to: stepheny.price@fox.com

📸 Share photos on Instagram: @fndstephprice

🎥 Send compelling video and breaking news footage on X: @Stephenyprice

🗞️ Your information could help uncover the next big story.

No plea agreement materialized, and the defense eventually rested without calling Anthony to the witness stand.

LEGITIMATE DEFENSE CLAIM IN AUSTIN METCALF MASSACRE: ‘TOUGH WAR’: EXPERT

Ritter suggested the defense may be reevaluating its strategy after several days of prosecution testimony.

“We are hearing that the defense case may not go as they hope and plan,” Ritter said.

According to Ritter, defense attorneys may be looking for one last opportunity to strengthen Anthony’s position before the case reaches the jury.

AUTHORITIES SURVEILLANCE VIDE SHOWS AUSTIN METCALF’S FATAL DROP AT TEXAS TRACK MEETING

Defense attorney Mike Howard gives his opening statement in a courtroom rendering from the Collin County courthouse during Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial. (Pat Lopez)

“Maybe they’re looking for a last-ditch effort to save him from life in prison,” he said.

Ritter then presented jurors with a frank evaluation of the competing cases presented.

“The prosecution case has moved forward very strongly. The defense case doesn’t seem to be going very well,” Ritter said.

KARMELO ANTHONY DEFENSE, WHILE EMOTIONS WERE SHOCKED, PROSECUTORS STARTED THE WAR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS OPENING OF THE CASE: EXPERT

Rotunno: Self-defense claim may not be valid

Ritter wasn’t the only Fox News legal analyst to question the strength of the defense’s case.

Speaking on Fox News’ “America Reports,” criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno said testimony presented during the trial reinforced her belief that Anthony’s self-defense claim faced significant hurdles.

WATCH: Self-defense claim ‘won’t hold water’ in Karmelo Anthony case: Donna Rotunno

“I never thought this case would rise to the level of self-defense,” Rotunno said. “This is a sad, awful, tragic situation where a young person makes a truly terrible decision, but decisions have consequences.”

AUSTIN METCALF’S SUSPECTED KILLER CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN RUNWAY STABBING

Rotunno noted the testimony of several student witnesses, including one witness who admitted during questioning that Anthony had instigated the confrontation.

“This one question could really change the tide here,” Rotunno said.

Rotunno also rejected defense efforts to emphasize testimony that the knife Anthony was carrying was legal under Texas law because its blade was less than five inches long.

THE LAWYER OF THE PREP PARTY MURDER ACCUSED SAID THAT THE CLIENT’S STATEMENT WAS THE KEY TO ACQUITTAL

A courtroom rendering depicts Karmelo Anthony and his defense team as jurors watch surveillance video during Anthony’s murder trial for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. (Pat Lopez)

“Just because you legally own the knife doesn’t mean you can use it the way it was used,” he said.

Addressing testimony that athletes from different schools interacted frequently at track meets, Rotunno said jurors will focus less on whether Anthony was allowed into the Memorial High School tent and more on how he reacted after being repeatedly asked to leave.

“Obviously he didn’t want to leave,” Rotunno said. “I think they’re trying to show that he knew exactly what he was doing when he put his hand in the bag.”

GOT A TIP?

Demonstrators show support for Karmelo Anthony outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, on the first day of jury selection in his trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Demonstrators show support for Austin Metcalf outside the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, during the first day of jury selection in Karmelo Anthony’s trial on June 1, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

What the jurors heard

Prosecutors called 21 witnesses, including student-athletes, police officers, investigators and the medical examiner.

Several students testified that Anthony was repeatedly asked to leave the Memorial High School tent before the conflict escalated. Witnesses recalled Anthony telling Metcalf, “Touch me and you’ll know” and “If you want me to move, you’ll have to move me.”

FOLLOW US ON X

Austin Metcalf, a junior at Memorial High School in Frisco, was stabbed in the chest during a track meet, allegedly by 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a Frisco Centennial High School student-athlete. (Jeff Metcalf/Unknown)

Many students stated that Metcalf was not looking for a fight. “I’m not going to fight you in a track meet,” one witness recalled Metcalf saying.

Defense attorneys countered that athletes from different schools routinely met at track meets, that Anthony was smaller than Metcalf, and that witnesses gave different accounts of the physical interaction just before the stabbing.

GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL

National attention and courthouse tensions

The trial began during demonstrations outside the Collin County courthouse. Anthony’s supporters rallied throughout the hearings, holding signs that read “Justice for Karmelo Anthony.”

Outside the courthouse on Monday, Next Generation Action Network President Dominique Alexander urged Anthony supporters “not to be fooled” by the clashes.

CLICK HERE FOR OTHER USA NEWS

“We don’t support chaos. We don’t support intimidation. We don’t support threats,” Alexander said.

The defense argued that Anthony feared for his safety when he stabbed Metcalf. Prosecutors allege evidence shows Anthony escalated a verbal disagreement into a deadly confrontation.

WATCH: Father speaks out after son stabbed to death at athletics meet

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

The case now boils down to different versions of what happened under the Memorial High tent and whether jurors believe Anthony’s actions were justified.

Fox News’ Brooke Taylor, Peter Cuddihy and Lindsey Reese contributed to this report.