The household of Karmelo Anthony, the student-athlete at Centennial Excessive College in Frisco, Texas, accused of fatally stabbing pupil observe star Austin Metcalf, is urging the general public to order all opinions concerning Karmelo’s case till all of the information have come out.
In the meantime, legal professionals representing the 17-year-old are looking for to have their consumer’s “extreme” $1 million bond lowered, and search a unique cost for the teenager, who’s at present booked on first-degree homicide.
“Karmelo and your entire Anthony household are sincerely saddened {that a} life was misplaced and supply their condolences to the household of Austin Metcalf,” the household mentioned in a assertion offered to the Fort Price Star-Telegram by Invoice Clark of the Clark Regulation Agency and Kim Cole of Okay Cole Regulation, which was not too long ago employed to defend Karmelo.
“Throughout this tough time, we urge the general public to chorus from speeding to judgment earlier than all of the information and proof are introduced. Karmelo, like all residents of the USA, is entitled to a good and neutral authorized course of; we’re dedicated to making sure that Karmelo’s rights are certainly protected all through every part of the felony justice system,” the assertion continued.
As beforehand reported, Karmelo admitted to police that he stabbed Austin, 17, below the Memorial Excessive College tent at David Kuykendall Stadium throughout a Frisco ISD district-wide observe meet. Nevertheless, Karmelo additionally advised the arresting officers, “I used to be defending myself,” and claimed Austin “put his palms on me” after “I advised him to not.”
Witnesses, together with Austin’s twin brother, Hunter, advised police that the 2 teenagers didn’t know one another previous to their altercation, and that the entire thing began after Austin and his teammates confronted Karmelo about being below their tent as an alternative of that of his personal workforce. One witness recalled listening to Karmelo say to Austin, “Contact me and see what occurs.” It’s seemingly as a result of the case in opposition to Karmelo is clearly not cut-and-dry that his attorneys have confirmed their bid to have his bond, which attorneys characterised as “extreme,” decreased.
“It will actually be a protracted highway forward and through this difficult time, we ask for prayers for each households and we ask to your persistence and respect for the authorized course of as we search the reality,” the attorneys mentioned within the assertion.
In the meantime, a number of on-line fundraisers have been launched on Karmelo’s behalf, garnering a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} in authorized protection funds.
The Unbiased reported an account that had raised greater than $60,000 for Karmelo, whom the account described as a “respectful, well-mannered younger man” with “a number of faculty provides” and a “4.0 pupil.”
“A child with ZERO felony historical past—not even a blemish,” the web page reportedly learn. “A son raised in a loving residence by mother and father who taught him proper for mistaken.”
Fox Information reported on a GiveSendGo fundraiser that obtained greater than $281,000 in donations from almost 65,000 donors.
Fox 4 reported that a number of campaigns to supply the teenager with a authorized protection and bond funds have been launched by means of GoFundMe, however these pages have been shut down as a consequence of GoFundMe’s Phrases of Service, which “prohibit fundraisers for the authorized protection of violent crimes.”
“Per this long-standing coverage, any fundraisers for the authorized protection of somebody charged with a violent crime are faraway from the platform and absolutely refunded,” a GoFundMe spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.
By the way, Karmelo’s household can also be denouncing the fundraisers.
“Any GoFundMe account will not be approved or endorsed by the household,” attorneys for the household mentioned in an announcement. “Please don’t use GoFundMe for any donations to Karmelo Anthony’s household.”
