re: Trial set to begin in murder of Austin Metcalf by Karmelo Anthony; Verdict is GUILTY

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They absolutely polled when they first got in there, elected a foreman, ate lunch and then made small talk for a little while.

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I was on a jury a while back for a 2nd degree murder case. We got to the jury room mid morning and had a verdict within an hour. Dragged it out a little while so we could get lunch.

You know, your stupidity wouldn't be so noticeable and off putting if you weren't so cocky about it.

Assistant DA on sudden passion argument:

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Assistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell spoke to the jury regarding the prosecution's position on the sudden passion argument.

"Something unique happened when we were all in that big room," Mitchell said, referring to the courtroom. "There was this sense of a bunch of people just wanting justice to be done. Y'all are the product of that. To me, it felt like a community."

Mitchell spoke about how, during the trial on Thursday, witnesses described Karmelo as a son, a student, etc. He reminded the jury that Austin Metcalf was also a son, a brother, and "the type of man who believed in people."

He mentioned that Austin was "full of testosterone... a big guy... and oh, that didn't apply to [Karmelo Anthony."

Mitchell told the jury that the defense will talk about Karmelo's age in their arguments, and he urged the jury to consider Austin's age as well.

"Nothing you do with your verdict, no matter what it is, nothing will take more from Karmelo and his family than he took from the Metcalfs," Mitchell said. He explained that Austin will never get to meet the love of his life, hold his graduation plaque, or have children.

The jury was shown photos from the track meet showing coaches performing CPR on Austin on the day of the stabbing.

According to NBC 5's Maria Guerrero, Austin Metcalf's mother was seen weeping in the courtroom. Other members of the public on the Metcalfs' side of the courtroom were also seen crying.

"This is not about vengeance," Mitchell said. "It's not about leniency, either."

"In Collin County, what's the price of taking a life?" Mitchell asked.

"There are going to be bleachers at stadiums in Collin County where parents are going to watch their kids play. One of the reasons we're in the community we live in is because we feel safe," Mitchell said.

"By giving a fair justice verdict, my prayer is that's how we find healing," Mitchell said.

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Defense's argument:

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Following Mitchell's statement, Mike Howard spoke to the jury regarding sudden passion.

"I cannot, will not, stand here and say what the right verdict is," Howard said.

"I have stood here in front of many juries in my career," Howard said. "Some big, some small, and I've had this conversation many times. It's never easy for me."

"I couldn't begin to tell you what the right thing to do is in this moment," Howard said. "You will know that in your own hearts."

He reminded the jury that the court respects their verdict and their role. Karmelo Anthony was seen crying in the courtroom as Howard spoke.

"Anyone who stands up here and tells you puts a number clearly doesn't understand how hard your job is," Howard said, referring to the jury's role in determining how long Anthony will spend in prison.

"I can only ask you to consider both sides, follow your heart, and follow the law," Howard said.

Howard then defined sudden passion, explaining that it is an emotion, a feeling, that is directly caused by provocation by the individual killed or others being killed at the time of the offense.

"Sudden passion doesn't mean blaming Austin or Hunter or any of those Memorial kids under that tent," Howard said. "This is not about blaming a victim."

"Decisions made in the heat of the moment are different than decisions that come after reflection," Howard explained to the jury.

"So when something happens... Austin, Hunter, the kids under the tent... when that happens, and you believe that Karmelo felt terror in that moment such that it rendered his mind incapable that he didn't have time for cool reflection, then sudden passion applies," Howard explained.

"You don't have to be sure of sudden passion, okay?" Howard said.

"I think the video helps really show that because for all this talk about what happened, at the end of the day, that video was mere seconds," Howard said, referring to the video of the altercation at the track meet. "There was a buildup, sure. But then a moment where everything happened in mere seconds."

"I ask you to consider both sides, yes, the Metcalfs have been irrevocably changed by this, and all of our hearts go out to them," Howard said, "The Anthony's too. There are innocent people on both sides who have lost significantly."

"Thank you for doing your duty," Howard said. "I'm going to agree with Mr. Mitchell, in that healing is needed, and you guys are going to decide what that is."

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However, there is only one party that is guilty.

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you’re basically saying kids can’t handle disputes among themselves if a black male is involved because they’re too prone to violence

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I don’t have any problem saying that

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"So when something happens... Austin, Hunter, the kids under the tent... when that happens, and you believe that Karmelo felt terror in that moment such that it rendered his mind incapable that he didn't have time for cool reflection, then sudden passion applies," Howard explained.

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Dog whistle soft racism cloaked in suicidal empathy

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I don’t have any problem saying that

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I don’t either but would be nice if she’d admit it

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Not what I am saying at all.

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Then what does the race of the coach for AM’s school have to do with anything?

Why would it matter if he was white or black?

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You know, your stupidity wouldn't be so noticeable and off putting if you weren't so cocky about it.

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to be fair, we’d be cocky too if we were MENSA members

I do find that train of thought interesting though…the real world must play a part in dispensing justice and punishing criminality. Just like misty Roberts is unlikely to re-offend (because she’s a woman, and because she offended out of horniness not violent aggression), the reality of the young black male culture must be taken into account here. He killed that kid because he is violent, and that’s how problems are frequently solved for young black men.

here is the world we live in. Are we going to acknowledge it, and try and protect the majority from it or not?

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So when something happens... Austin, Hunter, the kids under the tent... when that happens, and you believe that Karmelo felt terror in that moment such that it rendered his mind incapable that he didn't have time for cool reflection, then sudden passion applies

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Maybe this is why he never called Karmelo to the witness stand. He knew this was a losing case, and playing the sudden passion angle could result in a lighter sentence. If Karmelo took the stand during trial, the prosecution would have tore into him and the sudden passion angle might have been thrown out the window.