The dismissals came after prosecutors questioned potential jurors on if they would use Karmelo Anthony’s age, race, or even likeness to their own children as justification for acquittal.
Several jurors reported said that Anthony “looks like a child” when asked if they would consider giving him a life sentence for the alleged murder of Austin Metcalf.
“I don’t think I can make a decision about somebody so young. One mistake, one argument, one conflict, you can’t say he’s a bad person,” one potential juror told Assistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell after he reportedly reminded potential jurors that nobody would be “in trouble” for being honest about their feelings. Mitchell also asked the potential jurors in another statement how they feel about “finding an African American male guilty of murder.”
“I don’t know if I feel right putting a brother in jail,” one candidate stated.
Lawyers will likely have a final jury selection on Wednesday night out of a pool of 250 candidates.
Read More on Breitbart