Karmelo Anthony dropped plans to testify over track stabbing, lawyer says as teen seeks retrial — McKinney, Texas

MCKINNEY, Texas — McKINNEY, Texas — Karmelo Anthony had planned to testify during his Texas murder trial over a track meet stabbing but backed out amid sudden concerns that prosecutors would raise potentially damaging evidence about the teenager's past, one of his lawyers said Friday.

Anthony, 19, is asking for a new trial after a jury in June sentenced him to 35 years in prison for killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who attended a rival school and was stabbed during a confrontation at a track competition last year.

Since then, the case has stirred tensions over race and led to both families becoming targets of harassment.

During the second day of a hearing near Dallas, defense attorney Toby Shook said the teenager's plans to testify unraveled over worries that prosecutors would renege on an agreement to not present evidence that might further inflame an already highly charged case.