Prosecutors revealed disturbing text messages allegedly sent by convicted killer Karmelo Anthony, detailing fantasies of stabbing and licking blood from a knife, on Thursday during an appeal hearing.
Anthony, 19, was found guilty of murdering 17-year-old athlete Austin Metcalf with a knife at a high school track meet in April. His defense team is seeking to overturn his conviction, arguing that several factors denied him a fair trial. These include pressure to waive his right to testify, improper jury instructions, and restrictions on public access to the courtroom.
State Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the court that the text messages exposed Anthony's alleged obsession with violence and a habit of initiating fights. "There is a text message where he fantasies about stabbing someone and licking the blood off the blade," Wirskye stated.
According to Wirskye, on the morning of the murder, Anthony allegedly sent a text message that read, "I'm low key on the verge." The prosecutor also informed the court that during Anthony's time in Baton Rouge, his parents had enrolled him in a special LSU program for children who struggled with aggression and controlling their behavior.
New details emerged during the opening statements of the appeal hearing that had not been disclosed during the original trial. These were part of a "gentleman's agreement" between the prosecution and defense, which limited what character witnesses for Anthony could say and aimed to keep potentially damaging information about the teenagers out of court.
Anthony's defense team is contesting the conviction, citing issues that they claim compromised the integrity of the trial.
