A Texas judge has rejected Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial in the death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, leaving Anthony’s murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence in place.
Anthony, now 19, was convicted in June of killing Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. His defense had argued that problems surrounding the original proceedings, including an informal agreement over character evidence and restrictions on courtroom access, prevented Anthony from receiving a fair trial.
Judge Rejects Request for New Trial
Retired Kaufman County Judge Michael Chitty denied Anthony’s motion after a multi-day hearing that revisited several disputed issues from the original murder trial.
Anthony’s new defense team argued that prosecutors and his former attorneys had reached an informal agreement to keep evidence about the prior behavior of both Anthony and Metcalf out of the trial. According to the defense, a dispute over how that agreement would apply to Anthony’s potential testimony contributed to his decision not to take the witness stand.
Defense attorney Russell Wilson argued that Anthony believed prosecutors would no longer honor the understanding concerning his past. The defense maintained that the development affected Anthony’s ability to present his self-defense argument fully. Prosecutors rejected the characterization and said the original trial was conducted ethically and in accordance with the court’s rulings.
Case Focused on Self-Defense and Trial Conduct
The fatal confrontation occurred beneath a tent at a Frisco high school track meet. Prosecutors characterized the stabbing as an unjustified killing, while Anthony’s attorneys maintained that he acted in self-defense during an altercation with Metcalf.
A Collin County jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Anthony guilty of murder on June 9. The jury subsequently imposed a 35-year prison sentence. Anthony did not testify during the original proceedings.
The case has attracted widespread attention, including intense discussion about race because Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white. Authorities and the legal teams have faced significant public scrutiny and online controversy throughout the proceedings.
Appeal Expected to Continue
The rejection of Anthony’s request does not end his legal options. His attorneys are continuing the appeal process, with the case expected to move to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.
The defense has argued that several alleged legal and procedural errors warrant another examination of the conviction. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have expressed confidence in the original verdict and opposed the request for a retrial.
For now, the conviction remains intact and Anthony’s 35-year sentence stands. The next stage of the case will therefore focus on the appellate court and whether the defense can establish grounds for overturning the conviction or obtaining further judicial review.
