Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old convicted of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Texas track meet, is seeking a new trial and the removal of the trial judge, according to court records cited by Fox4. A Texas jury previously found Anthony guilty of murder following an argument at a 2025 track meet in Frisco, Texas, resulting in a 35-year prison sentence.
The case drew widespread national attention and sparked fierce debate over self-defense, school safety, and racial dynamics. According to CNN affiliate KTVT, prosecutors argued that Anthony provoked the confrontation by sitting under an opposing school’s tent, pulling a knife and stabbing Metcalf in the chest during an unprovoked attack. Conversely, defense attorneys maintained that Anthony acted in self-defense after Metcalf shoved him, according to CNN affiliate WFAA.
Legal Motions and Defense Arguments for a New Trial
Anthony’s new legal team, led by attorney Russell Wilson II, filed a 63-page motion seeking a new trial, according to Fox4. The defense argues that Anthony’s constitutional right to a fair trial was violated due to several judicial and procedural limitations. According to CourtTV, these include the trial judge’s decision to bar cameras from the courtroom and restrict public seating to just 27 spots, alongside a pre-trial gag order that kept preliminary proceedings behind closed doors.
The defense motion also contends that an informal prosecution agreement prevented them from calling expert witnesses to testify about Anthony’s epilepsy or forensic psychology. Furthermore, the defense stated that Anthony intended to testify in his own defense, but a late-stage dispute over the scope of the agreement forced him to choose between remaining silent or risking exposure to potentially damaging evidence, as reported by FOX4.
In a separate filing, Anthony’s attorneys requested the removal of trial judge John Roach from future appellate proceedings, according to FOX4. The motion cites post-trial media interviews where Judge Roach discussed the verdict and defended his decision to strike three Black potential jurors during jury selection, stating publicly that he followed the law “to a T,” as streamed by WFAA.
Prosecution Response and Case Background
First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye defended the integrity of the trial in a statement to Oxygen.com. “The defendant’s new lawyers have filed a motion containing several inaccurate characterizations of the trial proceedings,” Wirskye said, adding that the prosecution team conducted the trial ethically and in full compliance with court rulings.
The underlying incident occurred on April 2, 2025, at Kuykendall Stadium during a high school track meet. Anthony was a student at Frisco Centennial High School, and Metcalf attended Frisco Memorial High School. According to a Frisco police arrest report, the fatal confrontation unfolded under the Memorial High tent on the bleachers when Metcalf asked Anthony to move. Witnesses told police that Anthony reached into his bag, warned Metcalf not to touch him, and subsequently delivered a fatal stab wound.
The trial featured starkly contrasting narratives, with prosecutors asserting the killing was an unjustified murder and defense counsel arguing fear and self-defense. The case also mobilized community groups and public fundraisers, with a GiveSendGo fundraiser for Anthony raising about $625,000 and a GoFundMe for Metcalf’s family raising just under $600,000, according to CNN.
Prosecutors plan to file a written response in court addressing the new defense motions in the coming weeks, while the state maintains confidence in the jury’s unanimous verdict.