Stolen from elsewhere. Please note this was a live feed: if you want it in chronological order, please read from the bottom up. I may edit this to be non-retarded if I get the time.
DALLAS — The murder trial of 18-year-old Karmelo Anthony is set to begin Monday in Collin County, after
last year's fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet.
Jury selection begins Monday, June 1, with opening statements tentative set to begin Thursday, June 4. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.
WFAA will stream updates with analysis after the trial each day at 8 p.m. on our free streaming app WFAA+.
Here's how to download it for free.
Frisco track meet stabbing trial: Timeline of the case
The timeline of the case begins April 2, 2025.
Anthony, a former student at Frisco Centennial High School, is charged with murder in the April 2, 2025, killing of Metcalf, a student-athlete at Frisco Memorial High School.
Investigators say that morning, at a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium, a confrontation began under a team tent where athletes gathered during inclement weather. It ended when Metcalf was stabbed in the chest. Anthony was arrested and has claimed self-defense.
The case quickly drew intense national attention, fueled by social media debate centered on the races of the two young men, public protests, online threats and allegations of doxxing involving people connected to the proceedings.
Because Anthony was 17 at the time of the incident, Texas law allows him to be tried as an adult, and he faces a possible sentence ranging from five years to life in prison if convicted. Because the death did not meet the qualifications to be charged as a capital murder, and because of Anthony's age, the death penalty was never an option in the case.
Trial rules
Security at the courthouse will be tight.
Judge John Roach has banned cameras, livestreams and audio recording inside the courtroom. He also designated a security perimeter around parts of the courthouse grounds barring the public — and potential demonstrators — from gathering in those areas. The judge has also issued a gag order limiting public comments about the case from attorneys, witnesses, investigators and others directly involved in the proceedings.
With public seating limited, developments in the case will come from live reporting from inside the courtroom. WFAA has a team covering the case. Collin County reporter Jobin Panicker will be inside the courtroom each day, alongside a courtroom sketch artist. Outside the courtroom, senior crime and justice reporter Rebecca Lopez will also be chronicling case developments. WFAA has also arranged for a legal expert to sit in on the proceedings each day to help provide context and analysis on the WFAA+ daily evening wrap-up, which will be hosted initially by Jason Wheeler and later by senior investigative reporter Tanya Eiserer.
June 1, 2026 - jury selection begins
2:30 p.m.
Rebecca Lopez filed her report of the afternoon's jury selection session. She noted that she did not see any of the handful of demonstrators -- some advocating for Anthony and some for Metcalf -- come in from outside to attend jury selection.
Of about 600 potential jurors summoned, about 50 were excused during today's questioning by the judge. Tomorrow, when he and the lawyers review the remaining panelists' questionnaires, they hope to have the panel cut down to 250 people for another round of voir dire on Wednesday.
Throughout the day, Judge John Roach stressed to potential jurors the importance of being fair, unbiased and able to consider only evidence heard in court.
"Would you want you sitting on the jury?" he asked at one point. "People's lives depend on the decisions you make every day in this building."
"It's OK if you heard about this case, but you have to set that aside," the judge told them. "You have to follow the law" even if you don't agree with it.
(SITHRAK! note: this is not true and never has been. Jury nullification is a thing).
He then posed the question to the room: "Is there anyone who can't follow the law?" The judge did not call out any juror numbers, so presumably no one raised their hand. (The panelists were not shown on the closed-circuit video feed.)
For anyone who cannot follow the law, he told the panel, "The honorable thing to do is recuse yourself."
"If you have a disagreement with me you need to tell me," he urged them.
He told them not to rely on past press accounts they may have seen regarding what allegedly happened in the case.
He continued to stress to the pool the importance of them following his instructions and not talking about the case either inside or outside the courthouse until they are off the panel.
"I am not jacking around," he said. "Do not disobey my instructions." He reminded them they could be held in contempt and spend up to six months in jail and pay a $500 fine.
2 p.m.
Panicker reports that Judge Roach went over the courtroom rules and tentative schedule for the potential jurors. He told them that he intends to have court 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday, and on Saturdays, and that the case will last about two weeks, "through June 12th or later."
He told them that this afternoon, he wants them to finish their questionnaires, and once the are completed, then they are free to go home for the day. The judge advised them that if they have something to say, write it down in the questionnaire. The judge cautioned the panelists that whey when they leave for the day, they should not to talk about the case or do any "independent research."
He said on Tuesday, he and the lawyers will spend the day reviewing the questionnaires, and that by about 5 p.m. Tuesday, texts or emails will go out alerting those who have been selected telling them they need to return for a second round of jury selection at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The judge said he hopes to have the panel whittled down to about 250 people by then.
“We will have a jury picked on Wednesday," the judge said.
At one point, the prosecution team - Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis and First Assistant Bill Wirskye - introduced themselves, as did defense lawyer Mike Howard. On Wednesday, they will all presumably be able to question jurors after this initial round by the judge.
Roach told the panelists that he is not sure if the jury, once selected, will be sequestered.
A number of prospective jurors have raised concerns about their personal commitments after Judge Roach mentioned that court will last until 6 p.m. and be held on Saturdays. “I’m buying lunch every day and I’ll have bags and bags of snacks.”
The judge then dismissed the proceedings for the day, leaving jurors to work on their questionnaires.
1:30 p.m.
It's unclear if the court is planning to take a lunch break. Judge Roach continues to question jurors as they winnow down the pool of potential panelists.
Meanwhile, the scene outside the courthouse is calm.
1 p.m.
Panicker reports that because only the judge has a microphone, the feed isn't picking up what the jury pool is saying in answer to questions.
“Can you believe everything you see on social media?” Judge Roach asks potential jurors.
The judge gives the jury pool a check list:
- Know that jury system is important
- Be free from bias and prejudice
- Wait to hear evidence
- Be patient
- Only use evidence heard or seen in court
“Is there anybody in the room who cannot follow the law?” the judge asks rhetorically.
"Anybody else see jury service like this before?” The judge answers his own question: “Me, neither.”
The judge asks: "Despite our flaws, we are the greatest country in the world. Do you agree?” Several jurors have disagreed. A few potential jurors say we are not the only great country.
One juror answers, “Our country has a long and complicated history.”
12:30 p.m.
Jobin Panicker reports that Judge John Roach Jr. is being casual and conversational with the potential jurors. The judge acknowledged that it feels like a teacher lecturing to students. Potential jurors who are answering questions are being told to say their juror number before answering.
“You are the leftovers!” the judge says, draws a small chuckle inside this courtroom, noting that all who are left at this stage have made it past the disqualifications and dismissals phase. "We won’t be here all day," the judge said to the jury pool.
The overflow courtroom where the press and public are watching the proceedings via video feed was packed this morning. Many people have left over the course of the day, leaving about 40 watching the feed as the lunch hour approaches. On the video feed, Judge Roach is pacing from side to side, talking to the jury pool about bias and prejudices.
12 p.m.
Jobin Panicker reports that the feed has now started. The judge, bailiff and court reporter are the only people visible on camera, and only the judge is mic-ed. The judge is asking jurors questions like, "Why do we have a jury system?" Potential jurors are giving their answers.
Follow along this afternoon as we continue to report the progress of jury selection.
Here's a look at the parking lot and front entrance of the Collin County courthouse today. The temperature is about 82 degrees, but it feels like it's in the 90s, according to WFAA chief photographer Cody Marcom.
Rebecca Lopez
filed this quick update on jury selection.
11:30 a.m.
Rebecca Lopez reports that, although the video feed is live, there is nothing being shown in that overflow room where the press and public are gathered hoping to see jury selection. She said court personnel say that's because Judge Roach is discussing security issues with potential jurors. By law, voir dire (jury selection) has to be public and should only be closed to the public for, essentially, a specific and good reason.
Quoting the
U.S. Supreme Court opinion Presley v. Georgia (2010):
emphasis added
While the accused does have a right to insist that the voir dire of the jurors be public, there are exceptions to this general rule. “[T]he right to an open trial may give way in certain cases to other rights or interests, such as the defendant’s right to a fair trial or the government’s interest in inhibiting disclosure of sensitive information.” Waller, 467 U. S., at 45. “Such circumstances will be rare, however, and the balance of interests must be struck with special care.” Ibid. Waller provided standards for courts to apply before excluding the public from any stage of a criminal trial:
“[T]he party seeking to close the hearing must advance an overriding interest that is likely to be prejudiced, the closure must be no broader than necessary to protect that interest, the trial court must consider reasonable alternatives to closing the proceeding, and it must make findings adequate to support the closure.” Id., at 48.
Also:
There are no doubt circumstances where a judge could conclude that threats of improper communications with jurors or safety concerns are concrete enough to warrant closing voir dire. But in those cases, the particular interest, and threat to that interest, must “be articulated along with findings specific enough that a reviewing court can determine whether the closure order was properly entered.” Press-Enterprise I, supra, at 510; see also Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of Cal., County of Riverside, 478 U. S. 1, 15 (1986) (“The First Amendment right of access cannot be overcome by the conclusory assertion that publicity might deprive the defendant of [the right to a fair trial]”).
11 a.m.
Jobin Panicker says that the feed showing jury selection has now been turned on. The screen shows the state of Texas seal. Most of the people who were outside in the hallways are now coming back into the courtroom.
Earlier this morning, Panicker filed
this quick report before going into the courthouse.
10:30 a.m.
Chris Sadeghi reports that there's also a group of about two dozen Anthony supporters with a drum and tambourines out by the street wearing T-shirts in support of him. Many are dressed in purple. When asked who they are affiliated with, they said they are a group that formed on social media to show support.
10 a.m.
Jobin Panicker reports that press members and the public have been escorted inside the Ceremonial Courtroom, not the 296th district court, where the trial will actually take place. That Ceremonial Courtroom is larger, and seats about 100 people. There, they will watch a feed from the central jury room where jury selection will take place. That feed is only shown inside the courthouse, and won't be streamed publicly.
About 600 people were summoned as potential jurors, according to courthouse personnel. This morning many of those prospective jurors were being escorted into the courthouse by Collin County sheriff's deputies and McKinney police officers.
Everyone passed through metal detectors entering the courthouse. Currently, there are nine members of the press and about 80 people from the public inside there Ceremonial Courtroom. People are chatting quietly.
There are two TV screens suspended in the courtroom, where the proceedings from the central jury room will be shown. Panicker said they are waiting for the feed to turn on. In the meantime, he said he's been told that the judge and staff are going through dismissals and disqualifications of potential jurors, i.e., evaluating those who say they have work conflicts, child care issues, etc.
9:30 a.m.
WFAA's legal expert today will be Vanita Parker. She started her career as an assistant district attorney in Dallas County where she worked from 1997-2009. She's now doing defense work in private practice. She will appear on WFAA+'s stream tonight at 8 p.m. for a wrap up of the day's events, alongside our reporters.
9 a.m.
A large pool of potential Collin County jurors was set to show up to the courthouse this morning. They will undergo questioning by Judge John Roach Jr., the lawyers for Karmelo Anthony and prosecutors to determine whether they will be able to be one of the 12 jurors in the case. The judge will also select a number of alternates to listen to all the evidence in the case if one of the jurors were to become sick or otherwise is not able to serve out the whole trial.
Jurors typically fill out a questionnaire beforehand, giving the lawyers an idea of how fair they can be, whether they've interacted with law enforcement and the justice system before, and, whether they've heard anything about this particular case. Potential jurors need not be totally unfamiliar with the case. But, they must demonstrate, and swear under oath, that they can be fair and impartial, and can set aside any opinions they might have formed about the case and only consider the facts they hear in the courtroom.
8:30 a.m.
WFAA has had a crew out at the Collin County since before dawn. Chris Sadeghi reports that people were lining up at 6 a.m. to try to get a seat inside the courthouse. By about 7 a.m., a few demonstrators were out along along the road leading to the courthouse with a sign that says "justice for Austin Metcalf." He said security is visibly increased at the courthouse.
Jobin Panicker is making his way into the courthouse, and both he and Rebecca Lopez have seats inside the courtroom today. Stand by for updates all day long on the latest from inside - and outside - the courtroom.
