Matt Walsh

But here's what this defense witness is saying.

And Carmelo, meanwhile, supposedly said that everything would be cool if no one touched him.

No other witness has reported hearing that statement.

Only this guy supposedly heard it.

So this clearly seems like important testimony for the defense because it's the only witness who suggested that Carmelo Anthony had some reason to be worried that something would happen to him when he was sitting in the tent and before he reached into his bag.

And of course, there are reasons to doubt that Metcalf ever said that he was going to beat up Anthony.

In particular, there's the previous testimony from other witnesses that Metcalf repeatedly said that he didn't want to fight.

And this particular witness admitted that he wasn't sure of what Metcalf said.

And again, even if all that was true, even if Carmelo Anthony was being threatened, he could leave.

He could get up and leave at any time.

He's in a tent he's not supposed to be.

So if he really felt threatened, he could get up and leave.

And he didn't.

But if this testimony was a small victory for the defense, it didn't last very long.

In fact, it turned into a major defeat for them.

Because after the court returned from a 10-minute break and the prosecution began their cross-examination, the testimony fell apart immediately in spectacular fashion.

The same witness, remember, this is a witness for the defense, testified on cross-examination, quote, I think...

testified, quote, I think Carmelo was in the wrong.

And when asked by prosecutors whether Carmelo had provoked the confrontation, the witness said, yes.

So this was a stunning moment.