Frisco Murder Trial Starts Without Black Jurors, Fueling Fairness Concerns
In Frisco, Texas, 17-year-old Black defendant Karmelo Anthony is on trial for first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf after a high-school track meet. After three days of jury selection, 12 jurors and six alternates were seated, with none of the jurors Black, prompting accusations from the defense and civil-rights groups that prosecutors biased the jury. The state says any Black prospective jurors were removed because they were educators, while the defense argues it was a case of biased strikes. Surveillance video and witness testimony are part of the proceedings, with Anthony alleging self-defense. A gag order and courtroom electronics ban are in place, and the trial is expected to last about two weeks; if convicted, Anthony faces five years to life. A correction notes that no Black jurors were selected, not that the jury was all White.