Karmelo Anthony’s bid for a new murder trial was denied by a judge after a two-day hearing, leaving his conviction and 35-year sentence in place for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf unless appeals overturn the verdict. The decision centered on whether pretrial agreements and courtroom choices deprived Anthony of a fair trial, and the judge found the defense did not meet the burden to set aside the verdict. The case remains on appeal, and additional legal steps are likely to take months or longer to play out.
The denial came from retired Judge Michael Chitty, who heard arguments over whether Anthony’s trial was fundamentally unfair. Anthony, now 19, was convicted by a Collin County jury and sentenced in June to 35 years in prison after a confrontation at a Frisco track meet resulted in Metcalf’s death. The defense sought a do-over, arguing multiple procedural and evidentiary errors had tainted the original proceedings.
Defense lawyers argued that prosecutors breached an understanding reached before trial by introducing damaging material about both teenagers that had been meant to stay out of the courtroom. That alleged understanding, described by the defense as a sort of agreement, became a focal point during the hearing as counsel tried to show the jury had seen information it should not have. The judge concluded the defense did not prove the alleged breach justified erasing the conviction.
Prosecutors disputed the defense claims and insisted their conduct was appropriate and ethical throughout the trial. The Collin County District Attorney’s Office maintained the case was handled properly and that the evidence presented to the jury supported the conviction. Chitty, after weighing testimony and motions, sided with the prosecution’s position that the record did not justify a new trial.
Among the disputed items were allegations about the victim’s past behavior, including claims that he acted aggressively or displayed racist conduct at times. Those allegations were discussed by attorneys but did not form the basis of the jury’s guilty verdict. The court’s finding was that whatever was raised about the victim’s history did not undermine the validity of the trial outcome.
The hearing also brought up separate, troubling accusations about the defendant’s conduct outside the incident: claims that he stalked a former girlfriend and showed an obsession with violence. Those allegations were not part of the evidence used to convict Anthony, yet they figured into the defense’s claim that prosecutors had opened the door to material the parties had previously agreed to exclude. The judge did not find those arguments persuasive enough to warrant setting aside the jury’s decision.
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The procedural path to this hearing was itself unusual. The judge who presided over the trial, Collin County Judge John Roach, was recused from ruling on the new-trial motion, leading to the assignment of the retired judge who handled the two-day evidentiary hearing. Had the motion succeeded, the conviction would have been vacated and prosecutors would face the prospect of retrying one of the nation’s most closely watched murder cases.
With the motion denied, the jury’s verdict remains effective for now, but the legal fight is not finished. Anthony’s attorneys can take the issue to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, where the direct appeal of the murder conviction is already underway. Appellate proceedings could revisit some of the same issues raised at the hearing and may add additional claims about trial conduct and rulings.
Appellate review is likely to be slow. Dallas appellate attorney Brett Ordiway, quoted during coverage of the case, warned that the appellate court may not have the full record or briefing ready for serious consideration until early 2027. “That’ll be a long road ahead there,” Ordiway said, reflecting the timeline defense teams and appellate courts often face in complex criminal appeals.
Meanwhile, the practical effect of the ruling is immediate: Anthony will continue to serve the sentence imposed by the jury unless an appellate court orders otherwise. The conviction followed a full trial, a sentencing phase, and the subsequent motion that led to the two-day hearing. Those steps produced the record now subject to appellate scrutiny.
The state has defended how the trial unfolded and insists the verdict was fair based on the evidence presented to the jury. Defense counsel will have the opportunity to press their arguments before the appellate court, raising questions about pretrial agreements, evidentiary rulings, and the conduct of prosecutors during trial. Those issues will determine whether the conviction can be sustained on appeal or sent back for another trial.
For now, the denial of a new trial marks the latest chapter in a case that has drawn intense public attention and legal maneuvering. The judicial process continues through appeals, and the timeline for any final resolution remains uncertain as lawyers prepare their next moves and the appellate court sorts the record and arguments.
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