"Justice for My Son" Karmelo Anthony's Parents Say They Felt Pressured to Hire White Attorney, Expected Fair Trial

Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes broke their silence days after their son received a 35-year prison sentence for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.

The parents said they do not believe Karmelo Anthony received a fair trial and vowed to continue fighting the conviction that followed one of the most closely watched courtroom proceedings in Texas. According to Atlanta Black Star, Hayes said, "We will not stop until we get justice for my son," during an interview with radio host Mimi Brown.

Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murder in Collin County after jurors rejected his self-defense claim in the death of Metcalf, who was killed during a confrontation at a high school track meet in 2025. Anthony was 17 at the time of the stabbing and was later tried as an adult.

Members of Anthony's family pointed to decisions made during the legal process that they believe harmed the defense. Andrew Anthony said he felt pressure from people around the case and later regretted advice he received during the proceedings, including the family's decision to hire a white attorney.

Evidence in the case focused on the encounter inside a team tent at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco. Defense attorneys urged jurors to consider self-defense. Jurors heard competing accounts about whether Anthony acted out of fear or committed an intentional attack.

Visible emotion followed the reading of the verdict. Anthony cried after the verdict was read while members of Metcalf's family listened as the proceedings moved into the sentencing phase.

Kala Hayes described her son as respectful and caring, arguing that the public's understanding of him differs from the person she knows at home. Her remarks reflected a family's struggle to reconcile a murder conviction with their own view of their child.

Radio hosts spent hours dissecting the outcome. Supporters of Anthony questioned whether the process treated him fairly, while prosecutors maintained the evidence supported the conviction.

Appeal options now represent the family's next path forward. Texas court records show Anthony's 35-year sentence carries decades of prison time unless a higher court later overturns or modifies the outcome.

For Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes, the verdict did not end the fight. Their attention has shifted from the jury box to the appeals process as they continue seeking another chance to challenge the conviction.