A Texas judge has officially denied a request for a new trial for 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of murder earlier this year in connection with the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. Judge Michael Chitty issued a half-page order following a two-day hearing near Dallas, bringing a definitive halt to the defense’s latest bid to overturn the verdict.
The high-profile case stems from an April 2025 altercation at a track meet in Frisco, a suburb located 28 miles north of Dallas. In June, a Collin County jury found Anthony guilty of murder in the death of Metcalf, sentencing him to 35 years in prison. The initial tragedy and subsequent legal proceedings drew intense national scrutiny, fueled heavily by social media discussions regarding the racial dynamics of the teenagers involved—Anthony is Black, and Metcalf was white—though legal teams on both sides consistently maintained that the case was not about race.
At the core of the recent retrial request was an off-the-record agreement between prosecutors and Anthony’s trial defense team.
However, defense attorneys argued that the state effectively broke this understanding at the eleventh hour following a heated argument between lawyers on both sides. Fearing that prosecutors would introduce the suppressed character material if Anthony took the stand, his legal counsel advised him to forgo testifying, which severely disrupted their planned self-defense strategy.
In addition to the disputed agreement, Anthony’s legal representation argued that trial judge John Roach enforced strict courtroom rules that curtailed public access. They also sought Roach’s recusal, pointing to a posttrial television interview where the judge remarked regarding the jury’s verdict, “Whatever they say, they got it right,” as detailed by AP. Prosecutors defended the trial’s fairness, insisting that Roach’s rules were necessary and that no procedural violations occurred.
Legal Fallout and Responses from Officials
Following Judge Chitty’s ruling, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis issued a statement addressing the outcome. “We respect, and expected, the court’s decision denying the motion for a new trial,” Willis said. “The jury’s guilty verdict stands, and we remain confident in the process. Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week’s hearing.”
Defense attorney Russell Wilson made it clear that the legal fight is far from over. “Our commitment to our client has not changed,” Wilson stated following the ruling. “We will continue to advocate vigorously on his behalf through every lawful avenue available.”
Witness testimony during the trial established that Anthony had been sitting under a tent in the bleachers when Metcalf and others repeatedly told him to leave. Prosecutors argued that Anthony acted as the aggressor and provoked the confrontation, which escalated when Metcalf pushed Anthony, prompting Anthony to pull a knife and inflict a fatal chest wound.
Next Steps in the Appeals Process
With the motion for a new trial denied by Judge Chitty, Karmelo Anthony’s defense team is expected to advance their challenges to a higher appellate court.
