Karmelo Anthony Denied New Murder Trial

A Texas judge on Saturday dealt a crushing blow to convicted killer Karmelo Anthony, denying his bid for a new murder trial for fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf in the heart at a high school track meet.

Judge Michael Chitty rejected Anthony’s motion for a new trial following a two-day hearing after the judge who oversaw his murder conviction was removed from the case, local media reported.. 

Saturday’s ruling marks a major setback for Anthony’s appellate team, which cited several alleged errors during the trial, including claims that prosecutors violated a secret agreement with Anthony’s trial defense team to keep certain evidence — including allegations of racism and violence — from being presented to jurors.

The Collin County District Attorney’s Office has maintained that prosecutors acted ethically throughout the trial, The Daily Wire previously reported.

Anthony, 19, fatally stabbed Metcalf at a track event in April 2025 in Frisco, Texas. Evidence presented at trial showed that Anthony refused to leave another team’s tented area and, when confronted by the unarmed Metcalf, stabbed him directly in the heart. A Texas jury rejected his self-defense claim and sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison.

The case quickly drew national attention, fueled in part by a narrative peddled by the Anthony family and what critics described as a glaring lack of coverage from legacy media outlets, which routinely highlight and escalate white-on-black incidents. The high-profile trial began June 1 with jury selection and wrapped up just nine days later. Anthony broke down in tears and visibly shook as the verdict was read, and he again became emotional when his 35-year sentence was announced.

When Metcalf’s family delivered victim impact statements to the court, Anthony reportedly kept his head down and refused to look them in the eyes, even when asked to do so. 

“You can’t even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f*cking son,” the victim’s father, Jeff Metcalf, said.

In his longshot appeal, Anthony’s legal team argued that a retrial was warranted because District Judge John Roach enforced overly strict courtroom rules and gave an interview just days after the trial concluded. A visiting judge subsequently ordered Roach removed from the case.

Anthony’s legal team can appeal Saturday’s ruling, according to WFAA.