What are your thoughts on that track meet stabbing case out of Frisco, Texas?
What happened? Apparently during a rain delay at a track meet, this kid Karmelo Anthony went and sat under another team's tent. He was then confronted by the victim (Austin Metcalf). The victim told Karmelo to leave, he said "make me". Apparently after that it turned into an altercation where Karmelo reached into his bag and said "touch me again, and see what happens". He then stabbed the victim in the chest with a pocket knife, fled the scene and tried to toss the knife. Austin died of his injuries.
What I think the verdict will be: To me it looks like 2nd degree murder. Remember the difference between 2nd degree murder and manslaughter is the intent to kill. You could argue that one could not reasonably believe that a common pocket knife would be sufficient to kill someone and that the defendant didn't actually intend to kill the victim. I could see the jury going that direction. However, it seems odd to me that the defendant stabbed the victim in the chest. This looks like there was an intent to kill. It seems more reasonable to me that if a knife was used in an act of self defense, that the defendant would have slashed at the victim or stabbed him randomly. I perceive stabbing the victim in the chest as a very deliberate act, and shows an intent to kill. Realistically, though, I see the jury convicting on the manslaughter charge. I just don't see them thinking beyond a reasonable doubt that a 17 year old deliberately stabbed someone in the chest with an intent to kill. What are your thoughts?
What I think the verdict will be: To me it looks like 2nd degree murder. Remember the difference between 2nd degree murder and manslaughter is the intent to kill. You could argue that one could not reasonably believe that a common pocket knife would be sufficient to kill someone and that the defendant didn't actually intend to kill the victim. I could see the jury going that direction. However, it seems odd to me that the defendant stabbed the victim in the chest. This looks like there was an intent to kill. It seems more reasonable to me that if a knife was used in an act of self defense, that the defendant would have slashed at the victim or stabbed him randomly. I perceive stabbing the victim in the chest as a very deliberate act, and shows an intent to kill. Realistically, though, I see the jury convicting on the manslaughter charge. I just don't see them thinking beyond a reasonable doubt that a 17 year old deliberately stabbed someone in the chest with an intent to kill. What are your thoughts?
