Carmelo Anthony’s Parents Discuss Unfair Trial After Murder Conviction

In their first interview following their son’s murder conviction, Carmelo Anthony’s parents argued that he endured an unfair trial, claiming that all the witnesses lied during their testimonies. In conversations with CBS News and The Breakfast Club, Kara Hayes and Andrew Anthony expressed their belief that the jury had already decided on his guilt before the trial even began, essentially convicting him of Austin Metcalf’s murder without considering any evidence.

“He was convicted when he got out of prison,” Andrew Anthony stated. “He wasn’t innocent until proven guilty. He was already guilty.”

They recounted their son’s side of the story, mentioning that his girlfriend’s cousin initially invited him to a tent where Metcalf was found. Interestingly, that same cousin reportedly denied knowing Carmelo when he testified.

“He lied and said he didn’t know him. And they even had pictures, pictures with his grandmother too,” Andrew mentioned.

Concerns about race came up, particularly from Andrew, who pointed out that all jurors appeared to be white. “What struck me most was that the jury was all white,” he commented. Though the final jury was actually composed of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds, including white, Asian, and Hispanic.

“All the witness statements and stories were inconsistent,” Hayes added. “I think the jury would have noticed that, but by the time they were in the courtroom, their minds were already made up.” She asserted, “The reality is that everyone was lying.”

The parents also seemed to be trying to validate a significant public fundraising effort they initiated. “Everyone kept saying, ‘Hey, in order to beat this… we’re going to need white lawyers to come out and fight,'” Andrew noted during the interview. Although they hired a white attorney, Andrew emphasized, “That’s all. “

Mike Howard, a Dallas-based attorney, represented Carmelo Anthony in his initial trial. However, following the trial, Carmelo requested the court to appoint an attorney for his legal appeal, stating he lacked the funds to hire one, according to reports.

Interestingly, Anthony and Hayes showed little remorse for their son’s actions or for the grief of the Metcalf family. “They just… said they had been robbed,” Andrew shared. “[Carmelo] didn’t go looking for this.”