Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Karmelo Anthony's attempt to get a new trial for the killing of Austin Metcalf has been denied. And after seeing the evidence prosecutors were prepared to use against him if he had testified, I don't find the judge's decision remotely surprising.
In today's show, I break down the court's order denying Anthony a new trial and the extraordinary character evidence revealed during the fight over that motion—much of which the original jury never heard. Prosecutors presented messages in which Anthony allegedly discussed shooting people, stabbing someone and licking the blood from the blade, losing control when angry, carrying a firearm as a minor, fighting at school, threatening his former girlfriend, and even talking about shooting up a school. Some of the most disturbing messages were allegedly sent only hours before Austin Metcalf was stabbed.
I also explain why Anthony's decision not to testify mattered so much. Once a criminal defendant takes the witness stand, his credibility becomes fair game, potentially opening the door to character evidence that otherwise might never reach the jury. Anthony's defense argued that prosecutors effectively prevented him from testifying by threatening to introduce this material. I don't believe that argument justified a new trial—and now the judge has rejected it.
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"You are wise to buy this material. I hope you watch it, internalize it, and keep it to the forefront whenever you even think of reaching for a gun"
-Massad Ayoob (President of the Second Amendment Foundation)
The #1 guide for understanding when using force to protect yourself is legal. Now yours for FREE! Just pay the S&H for us to get it to you.
➡️ Carry with confidence, knowing you are protected from predators AND predatory prosecutors
➡️ Correct the common myths you may think are true but get people in trouble
➡️ Know you're getting the best with this abridged version of our best-selling 5-star Amazon-rated book that has been praised by many (including self-defense legends!) for its easy, entertaining, and informative style.
➡️ Many interesting, if sometimes heart-wrenching, true-life examples
Get Your Free Book: lawofselfdefense.com/getthebook
00:00 Carmelo Anthony's New Trial DENIED
00:11 The Evidence The Jury Never Heard
00:26 The Judge's Actual Order
00:39 Why The Judge Rejected A New Trial
01:26 Why Anthony's Argument Was Already In Trouble
01:39 The Alleged Deal With Prosecutors
01:47 Why Anthony Needed To Testify
02:26 What Happens When A Defendant Takes The Stand
02:42 The Door To Character Evidence Opens
03:00 Prosecutors Reveal What They Had
03:10 The Messages Anthony Didn't Want The Jury To See
03:30 What Happened Hours Before Austin Metcalf's Death
03:49 Anthony's History Before Texas
04:58 More Evidence Of Fighting
05:14 The School Threat
05:27 “When I Get Mad, I See Red”
05:39 Threats Against His Girlfriend
05:49 Would Anthony REALLY Have Wanted This Before The Jury?
05:53 Could His Sentence Have Been Worse?
06:01 What Anthony's Defense Was Trying To Accomplish
08:03 Anthony's History Goes Back Years
08:40 The School Shooting Message
08:54 Anthony's New Legal Team
10:15 The Events Leading Up To Austin Metcalf's Death
11:48 Comparing Anthony And Metcalf's Histories
12:40 The “Good Kid” Narrative
13:29 Andrew Sees The Same Pattern Again
Karmelo Anthony's attempt to get a new trial for the killing of Austin Metcalf has been denied. And after seeing the evidence prosecutors were prepared to use against him if he had testified, I don't find the judge's decision remotely surprising.
In today's show, I break down the court's order denying Anthony a new trial and the extraordinary character evidence revealed during the fight over that motion—much of which the original jury never heard. Prosecutors presented messages in which Anthony allegedly discussed shooting people, stabbing someone and licking the blood from the blade, losing control when angry, carrying a firearm as a minor, fighting at school, threatening his former girlfriend, and even talking about shooting up a school. Some of the most disturbing messages were allegedly sent only hours before Austin Metcalf was stabbed.
I also explain why Anthony's decision not to testify mattered so much. Once a criminal defendant takes the witness stand, his credibility becomes fair game, potentially opening the door to character evidence that otherwise might never reach the jury. Anthony's defense argued that prosecutors effectively prevented him from testifying by threatening to introduce this material. I don't believe that argument justified a new trial—and now the judge has rejected it.
"BRANCA FOR SCOTUS" MUGS! thebrancashow-shop.fourthwall.com/products/branca-mug-001
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Exclusive Members-only content & perks! Only ~17 cents/day! $5/month: youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join
Visit Here: lawofselfdefense.com/getthebook
"You are wise to buy this material. I hope you watch it, internalize it, and keep it to the forefront whenever you even think of reaching for a gun"
-Massad Ayoob (President of the Second Amendment Foundation)
The #1 guide for understanding when using force to protect yourself is legal. Now yours for FREE! Just pay the S&H for us to get it to you.
➡️ Carry with confidence, knowing you are protected from predators AND predatory prosecutors
➡️ Correct the common myths you may think are true but get people in trouble
➡️ Know you're getting the best with this abridged version of our best-selling 5-star Amazon-rated book that has been praised by many (including self-defense legends!) for its easy, entertaining, and informative style.
➡️ Many interesting, if sometimes heart-wrenching, true-life examples
Get Your Free Book: lawofselfdefense.com/getthebook
00:00 Carmelo Anthony's New Trial DENIED
00:11 The Evidence The Jury Never Heard
00:26 The Judge's Actual Order
00:39 Why The Judge Rejected A New Trial
01:26 Why Anthony's Argument Was Already In Trouble
01:39 The Alleged Deal With Prosecutors
01:47 Why Anthony Needed To Testify
02:26 What Happens When A Defendant Takes The Stand
02:42 The Door To Character Evidence Opens
03:00 Prosecutors Reveal What They Had
03:10 The Messages Anthony Didn't Want The Jury To See
03:30 What Happened Hours Before Austin Metcalf's Death
03:49 Anthony's History Before Texas
04:58 More Evidence Of Fighting
05:14 The School Threat
05:27 “When I Get Mad, I See Red”
05:39 Threats Against His Girlfriend
05:49 Would Anthony REALLY Have Wanted This Before The Jury?
05:53 Could His Sentence Have Been Worse?
06:01 What Anthony's Defense Was Trying To Accomplish
08:03 Anthony's History Goes Back Years
08:40 The School Shooting Message
08:54 Anthony's New Legal Team
10:15 The Events Leading Up To Austin Metcalf's Death
11:48 Comparing Anthony And Metcalf's Histories
12:40 The “Good Kid” Narrative
13:29 Andrew Sees The Same Pattern Again
