Nice young man. Those three words from the judge about Karmelo Anthony still shock people. Because nice young men aren’t supposed to commit murder. But Karmelo did. And Austin Metcalf paid the ultimate price. Two families changed forever by one decision. The judge’s surprising take will stay with you 👇
The no-nonsense Texas judge who presided over Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial said he believed the jury made the right decision — as he also weighed in on the teen’s character.
Judge John Roach defended the jury’s verdict at the end of the high-profile trial last week that saw Anthony sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, 17.
Karmelo Anthony was found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf.Facebook/Drew Anthony
Judge John Roach defended the jury’s verdict at the end of the high-profile trial last week.WFAA
“Yes they did because they were picked based upon the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict,” he told WFAA when asked whether jurors did the right thing.
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Roach added that while he believed Anthony came off as a nice person in their brief interactions, the teen would have to live with the consequences of his actions.
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“He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did,” Roach said in the post-trial interview.
The murder case made headlines due to the heightened tensions escalated over race, with Anthony’s lawyers trying to paint Metcalf, who was white, as a bully who targeted Anthony, who is black.
The jury, however, did not agree with Anthony’s claim of self-defense, nor did they accept a proposed “sudden passion” argument that would’ve downgraded his verdict from first-degree to second-degree murder and shrunk his steep punishment to a maximum of 20 years.
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Despite the viral nature and constant commentary of the case, Roach said he was satisfied with the proceedings and would ignore criticisms levied against the trial.
“As long as I follow the law, I sleep well at night,” he said. “I know I made people mad but I’m not here to make them happy either.”
