Karmelo Anthony Seeks New Trial in Texas Track Meet Killing Case
- Convicted of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet, the 19-year-old is demanding a new trial and a different judge on appeal.
- Anthony’s high-powered defense team argued in court motions that his constitutional rights were violated.
- A jury convicted him of first-degree murder for the April 2025 killing.
High-Profile Defense Team Demands New Trial
Karmelo Anthony wants a fresh start. Convicted of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet, the 19-year-old is demanding a new trial and a different judge on appeal. Court documents filed in July 2026 lay out the stakes.
Anthony’s high-powered defense team argued in court motions that his constitutional rights were violated. Their primary grievances? His first trial lacked full public access, and prosecutors prevented him from testifying in his own defense.
The Frisco Track Meet Stabbing
Anthony is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder for the April 2025 killing.
The fatal confrontation erupted during a rain delay. Anthony sat in a team tent belonging to Metcalf’s group. Witnesses testified that Metcalf repeatedly told Anthony to leave before a physical altercation ensued. The knife attack left Metcalf dead in his twin brother’s arms.
A Shift in Legal Strategy and Judicial Recusal
Legal representation for Anthony shifted significantly when a new team of attorneys joined the case pro bono to overturn the conviction. The roster includes Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe, veteran appellate attorney Russell Wilson, and civil rights lawyer Brooke Cluse from Ben Crump Law.
Court filings submitted by the defense demanded that state District Judge John Roach be removed from all remaining post-trial proceedings, citing alleged bias. The defense pointed to post-verdict media interviews where Roach defended the jury’s guilty verdict. Those statements, the defense argued, made it impossible for him to fairly rule on future motions.
The August 2026 Hearings Before Judge Chitty
Judge John Roach was removed from the case in August 2026. Following the defense’s recusal motion, Judge Michael Chitty was assigned to consider the motion for a retrial.
During subsequent court hearings overseen by Judge Chitty, defense attorney Russell Wilson argued that the trial was marred by off-the-record agreements between legal teams. These agreements shielded character information about both sides from the courtroom. Wilson told the court that the original proceedings allowed a shadow docket that limited public access and proper procedure.
Withheld Evidence and Courthouse Pressure
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye defended the trial’s integrity during the August 2026 hearings. He stated that both legal teams mutually agreed to withhold certain character evidence to prevent racial tensions and public hostility from boiling over.
Wirskye noted that defense information indicated Metcalf had used racial slurs and bullied Black classmates in the past. At the same time, prosecutors held back evidence showing Anthony possessed an obsession with weapons and went to the track meet spoiling for a fight.
Both sides acknowledged that safety concerns, death threats, fake autopsy reports, and intense social media scrutiny had heavily impacted the environment surrounding the courthouse during the original proceedings.