Karmelo Anthony’s parents spoke publicly for the first time after their son’s murder conviction, saying they believe he did not receive a fair trial and accusing witnesses of lying during testimony.
In interviews with CBS News and The Breakfast Club, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony said they felt the jury had already made up its mind before the trial even began, arguing that their son was effectively treated as guilty before all evidence was presented.
“He was convicted when he walked out of the jail,” Andrew Anthony told CBS. “It was no innocent ’til proven guilty. He was already guilty.”
The couple described events from their son’s perspective, claiming that a cousin of his girlfriend had invited him into the tent where Austin Metcalf was present. They also alleged that the same witness later denied knowing Karmelo when called to testify in court.
“He lied and was saying he didn’t even know [him], and they had pictures, pictures with his grandmother,” Andrew Anthony said during The Breakfast Club interview.
Andrew Anthony also pointed to what he saw as racial bias in the proceedings, highlighting the makeup of the jury. “What stuck out to me, No. 1, was the all-White jury,” he told CBS. However, reports indicated the jury included white, Asian, and Hispanic members.
Hayes also questioned the consistency of testimony from witnesses, suggesting that the defense expected the jury to recognize contradictions. “I mean, all of the witnesses’ statements and stories were inconsistent, so we’re thinking that the jury is going to notice that, but they already had their mind made up when they sat in that courtroom,” she said on The Breakfast Club. She also stated, “Everyone actually lied.”
The parents also discussed their fundraising efforts and legal representation, saying they were advised that hiring a particular type of attorney would help their case. “Everybody kept saying, ‘Hey, to beat this … you need a white attorney to go out there to fight,” Andrew Anthony said during the interview.
Karmelo Anthony was represented during the trial by Dallas attorney Mike Howard. However, according to WFAA, Anthony later requested that the court appoint him an appeals lawyer, claiming he was unable to afford one.
Throughout the interviews, Andrew Anthony and Hayes also referenced the emotional toll of the case but offered little direct acknowledgment of the Metcalf family’s loss. “They just… were saying they were robbed,” Andrew Anthony told The Breakfast Club. “[Karmelo] didn’t go looking for this.”
