Family of alleged killer Karmelo Anthony to use $439,000 in donations to buy new home.

fisky wrote:

I don't see how this will go to trial. It doesn't matter whether the knife was a legal length. A knife is considered a deadly weapon if it is used to attack another person. There were multiple witnesses.

I suspect that the defense will plead guilty in return for a reduced sentence... maybe two years in prison, plus a period of parole. Here is Texas law, which defines this death as manslaughter, in my opinion. (See the bolded section below.)

ChatGPT wrote:

In Texas, **murder laws** are covered under the **Texas Penal Code, Title 5, Chapter 19**. The law distinguishes **intentional murder, unintentional (but reckless) killing, felony murder, and manslaughter**. Here's a breakdown of how Texas defines and treats each type:

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### 🔴 **1. Murder (Section 19.02)**
**Murder in Texas generally includes intentional or knowing killing.**
A person commits **murder** if they:

- **Intentionally or knowingly** cause the death of another person.
- Intend to cause **serious bodily injury** and commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that causes death.
- Commit or attempt to commit a felony (other than manslaughter), and in the course of it, cause the death of someone (this is **felony murder**).

🔹 **Penalty**: First-degree felony
🔹 **Punishment**: 5 to 99 years or life in prison, plus up to a $10,000 fine

**Affirmative Defense – Sudden Passion:** If the killing occurred under “sudden passion” from adequate cause (e.g., catching a spouse in adultery), it can be reduced to a **second-degree felony** (2 to 20 years).

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### 🔶 **2. Capital Murder (Section 19.03)**
This is a more serious form of murder with specific circumstances, such as:

- Victim is a **peace officer or firefighter** acting in official duty
- The murder occurs during the commission of serious felonies like kidnapping, burglary, robbery, arson, obstruction, retaliation, or sexual assault
- Multiple people are murdered
- Murder-for-hire (or hiring someone to murder)
- The victim is under **10 years old** (or under 15, in some cases)
- Incarcerated individuals killing others

🔹 **Penalty**: Capital felony
🔹 **Punishment**: Life without parole or the **death penalty**

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### 🟡 **3. Manslaughter (Section 19.04)**
This applies when someone **recklessly causes the death** of another person, without intent to kill.

- Example: Drunk driving and causing a fatal crash
- No intent to kill is required, but **recklessness** must be proven

🔹 **Penalty**: Second-degree felony
🔹 **Punishment**: 2 to 20 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine

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### ⚪ **4. Criminally Negligent Homicide (Section 19.05)**
This applies when someone causes death through **criminal negligence** (a higher level of carelessness than ordinary negligence).

- Example: Leaving a child in a hot car and the child dies
- No intent or recklessness is needed—just **failure to perceive a substantial risk** that a reasonable person would have noticed

🔹 **Penalty**: State jail felony
🔹 **Punishment**: 180 days to 2 years in state jail, up to a $10,000 fine

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### ⚫ Summary Table:

| **Charge** | **Mental State** | **Penalty** | **Max Punishment** |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| **Capital Murder** | Intentional + special cases | Capital felony | Life without parole or death |
| **Murder** | Intentional / knowing | 1st-degree felony | 99 years to life |
| **Manslaughter** | Reckless | 2nd-degree felony | Up to 20 years |
| **Criminally Negligent Homicide** | Criminal negligence | State jail felony | Up to 2 years in state jail |

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Let me know if you want case examples, recent legal updates, or info about **self-defense, stand-your-ground**, or **castle doctrine laws** related to homicide in Texas.