A Texas judge has rejected Karmelo Anthony’s plea for a new trial following his conviction for the murder of Austin Metcalf, a fellow student, during a track meet last year. The decision was made on August 22, 2026, by Judge Michael Chitty, who was appointed to review the case after the original trial judge was removed from the appellate process.
Anthony, 19, was found guilty in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Metcalf. The judge’s ruling concluded that after careful examination of the motion, the evidence, and relevant legal precedents, there were no grounds for a new trial.
In his order, Judge Chitty stated, “Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, the briefs, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined that the motion should be denied.” This ruling upholds the jury’s original verdict.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis expressed respect for the court’s decision, emphasizing confidence in the legal 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,” he stated.
Mark Scott, a criminal defense attorney not involved in the case, noted that Anthony’s legal team faced significant challenges in their request for a new trial. They needed to demonstrate a substantial legal or constitutional error during the original proceedings.
Scott pointed out that the defense’s argument concerning an informal agreement between prosecutors and Anthony’s former attorneys might be particularly difficult to pursue since it was not formally documented in the trial records. “The court of appeals is going to be reviewing the entire transcript and the judge’s ruling as well,” he added.
Anthony’s new attorneys claimed that his rights were infringed upon due to undocumented discussions held by former Judge John Roach and pretrial hearings that Anthony did not attend. They also contended that his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated by restrictions on courtroom access during the trial.
Key issues debated during the hearings included a “gentleman’s agreement” between prosecutors and Anthony’s original defense team, which aimed to exclude certain character evidence from the trial. Former defense attorney Toby Shook testified that this agreement was meant to concentrate the case on the events surrounding the stabbing, which occurred under a tent at the track meet.
Shook argued that allowing Anthony to testify could have bolstered a self-defense claim, potentially leading to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Conversely, Prosecutor Bill Wirskye clarified that the agreement was designed to prevent damaging character evidence from influencing the jury pool.
During the trial, prosecutors maintained that the courtroom was accessible to the public and media, while the defense contended that the cessation of overflow room usage during the trial unduly restricted public access.
The incident in question unfolded on April 2, 2025, when Anthony allegedly stabbed 17-year-old Metcalf during a regional high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco. Investigators reported that there was no prior relationship between the two teens before the altercation, which began when Metcalf asked Anthony to leave the team tent.
Surveillance footage released post-trial captured critical moments leading up to and following the stabbing, showing Anthony fleeing the scene. He was identified shortly thereafter by a school resource officer, and body camera footage from his arrest features him claiming self-defense in the confrontation.
With the trial now concluded, the case is set to proceed through the Fifth Court of Appeals.
