Judge to Consider New Trial for Texas Teen Convicted of Murder

A judge in McKinney, Texas, is set to review the possibility of granting Karmelo Anthony a new trial. Earlier this summer, Anthony was convicted of murder in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet.

In a recent development, the judge who conducted Anthony’s trial was removed from the case. Judge Michael Chitty has now been assigned to evaluate the request from Anthony’s attorneys for a retrial. Currently 19, Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison. During Wednesday’s court appearance, he was seen wearing a green prison jumpsuit. Both his parents and Metcalf’s family attended the hearing.

Anthony’s legal team requested the removal of state District Judge John Roach partly due to a television interview where Roach expressed his belief that the jury was correct in their guilty verdict. The attorneys argued that the trial held in June experienced issues such as restrictive courtroom rules and incorrect jury instructions. They also stated Anthony opted not to testify following a disagreement with prosecutors on focusing the trial around the events leading to the stabbing.

The jury had rejected Anthony’s self-defense claims during the confrontation with Metcalf in the stadium bleachers last year. Students provided testimony depicting a heated argument over Anthony’s refusal to vacate a tent belonging to Metcalf’s team on a rainy spring day.

National attention surrounding the case was partly due to social media activity framing the incident in racial terms. Anthony is Black, and Metcalf was white. However, attorneys from both sides informed jurors that race was not a factor in the tragedy.

During the recusal hearing, Anthony’s lawyers highlighted Roach’s statements to a Dallas TV station after the trial. In the interview, Roach affirmed the jury’s decision, stating, “Yeah, they did,” and defended his courtroom rules, acknowledging online interest in the case.

As the case gained national interest last year, both Metcalf’s and Anthony’s families reported harassment. At the track event, Anthony had stayed under the Memorial High School tent in the bleachers, ignoring repeated requests from Metcalf and others to leave. Witnesses testified that the situation escalated.

Prosecutors argued Anthony provoked Metcalf, with witnesses identifying Anthony as the instigator. At one point, Anthony was seen reaching into a bag, reportedly saying, “Touch me and see what happens,” according to police reports. Witnesses stated Metcalf pushed Anthony, who then allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest.