MCKINNEY, Texas — A Texas judge denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial Saturday, leaving his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence intact while his attorneys continue challenging the case through the appeals process.
Visiting Judge Michael Chitty, a retired Kaufman County judge assigned to the case, issued the ruling after two days of testimony over whether Anthony received a fair trial. The hearing examined courtroom restrictions and an unusual off-the-record agreement between prosecutors and Anthony’s original defense attorneys.
Karmelo Anthony, 19, was convicted in June of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Anthony fatally stabbed Metcalf during an April 2025 confrontation at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Anthony maintained that he acted in self-defense. A Collin County jury rejected that argument and sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
The denial does not end Anthony’s legal fight. His case now moves toward the Texas appellate courts, where his attorneys can continue challenging his conviction.
Off-the-record agreement becomes focus of Karmelo Anthony hearing
Anthony’s new legal team sought another trial based on several issues surrounding the original proceedings.
Among the most significant was an informal agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys concerning potentially damaging information about both Anthony and Metcalf.
The agreement was intended to keep certain information about the teenagers’ backgrounds out of the trial and focus jurors on what happened during their confrontation.
The arrangement came under scrutiny during Anthony’s post-trial hearing.
Toby Shook, one of Anthony’s original trial attorneys, testified that Anthony initially planned to testify in his own defense.
That changed amid concerns that taking the stand could allow prosecutors to introduce damaging information about Anthony’s past. Anthony ultimately did not testify.
Anthony’s new defense attorneys argued that the circumstances surrounding that decision undermined his right to a fair trial.
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye disputed the defense’s characterization. Wirskye said there was never an agreement preventing Anthony from testifying. He argued that restrictions surrounding the trial were necessary because of threats, misinformation and intense public attention surrounding the case.
The hearing also brought previously undisclosed allegations about both teenagers into public view. Those details had largely been kept away from jurors under the informal arrangement between the two sides.
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Original judge removed before hearing
Saturday’s decision came days after another significant development in Anthony’s case.
Judge John Roach Jr., who presided over Anthony’s murder trial, was removed from handling the post-trial proceedings after Anthony’s attorneys questioned his impartiality.
The defense pointed partly to a television interview Roach gave after the trial in which he discussed the case and defended his decisions.
Visiting Judge Sid Harle ruled that Roach’s comments could cause a reasonable person to question his impartiality. However, Harle did not conclude that Roach was incapable of being fair.
Chitty was then assigned to consider Anthony’s request for a new trial.
Anthony’s attorneys turn toward appeal
Anthony’s appellate attorneys can now ask a higher court to review issues raised during the trial and post-trial proceedings.
The case has drawn national attention since Metcalf’s killing, including intense debate about self-defense and race. Anthony is Black and Metcalf was White.
Attorneys on both sides have said race did not play a role in the killing, even as the case generated racialized commentary and threats outside the courtroom.
For now, Anthony’s conviction and 35-year sentence remain in effect.
