MCKINNEY, Texas – A judge is set to deliberate on the possibility of granting a retrial for Karmelo Anthony, a Texas teenager convicted of murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old athlete Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet. This hearing comes on the heels of Anthony’s conviction earlier this summer, where he received a sentence of 35 years in prison.
The legal landscape shifted for Anthony when Judge Michael Chitty, who presided over the initial trial, was removed from the case. The assignment now falls to Judge John Roach, who will evaluate the motion filed by Anthony’s legal team for a new trial.
Anthony, now 19 years old, appeared in court wearing a green prison jumpsuit, flanked by his parents as well as those of Metcalf. His attorneys have raised concerns about the fairness of the initial trial, claiming that strict courtroom decorum and improper jury instructions influenced the proceedings. They also pointed to a dispute regarding Anthony’s decision not to testify, which they argue stemmed from prosecutorial tactics.
During the trial, jurors rejected Anthony’s assertion that he acted in self-defense during a confrontation with Metcalf in the stadium bleachers. Witnesses reported that tensions escalated when Anthony refused to vacate a tent belonging to Metcalf’s team, leading to a heated exchange between the two young men.
The case garnered significant media attention, particularly due to the racial dynamics at play. Karmelo Anthony is Black, while Austin Metcalf was white. However, attorneys for both sides emphasized to the jury that the altercation was not racially motivated.
Key to the recusal hearing was a television interview featuring Judge Roach, where he stated that the jury had “got it right” with their guilty verdict. This statement raised red flags for Anthony’s legal team, leading to their request for Roach’s removal.
As the case developed, both families reported being subjected to harassment amidst the heightened scrutiny and public interest surrounding the trial. Multiple schools were present at the track meet during the incident, with witnesses detailing how Anthony’s presence under the Memorial High School tent led to a confrontation with Metcalf and his peers.
Prosecutors alleged that Anthony instigated the confrontation, describing him as the aggressor. Witnesses recounted an incident where Anthony warned Metcalf, saying, “Touch me and see what happens,” before pulling out a knife and fatally stabbing him.
