A Texas judge was removed from the murder case of Karmelo Anthony on Wednesday, a decision that comes ahead of a critical hearing to determine if the teenager will receive a new trial for the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet.
Anthony, now 19, was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the killing of Austin Metcalf. His defense team sought the removal of state District Judge John Roach, citing comments Roach made in a television interview after the June trial. In the interview, Roach stated that the jury "got it right" when they delivered a guilty verdict.
Visiting Judge Michael Chitty was assigned to the case following the recusal. Cheers erupted in the hallway outside the McKinney courtroom after the ruling, with some of Anthony's supporters chanting "Free Karmelo!"
"Today’s ruling answers a fundamental question: whether a reasonable fully informed observer would see Judge Roach’s conduct and believe that he could fairly and impartially consider a motion for new trial," Anthony's lawyers said in a statement.
Anthony's legal team also argued that Roach enforced strict courtroom rules that limited public access to the proceedings and that a retrial is necessary. During the initial trial, jurors rejected Anthony's self-defense claims. Testimony from other students described a heated exchange over Anthony's refusal to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf's team on a rainy spring day.
Visiting Judge Sid Harle stated that while he did not know Judge Roach, he believed Roach would be fair. However, Harle granted the defense's recusal request, noting in his written order that the evidence suggested the judge's "impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye had advocated for Roach to remain on the case, asserting the judge had done nothing wrong and that courtroom rules were in place to protect the trial's integrity amidst demonstrators outside the courthouse. Both Metcalf's and Anthony's families reportedly faced harassment as national attention intensified on the case last year.
Witnesses testified that Metcalf and others repeatedly asked Anthony to leave the tent, leading to a confrontation. Prosecutors stated Anthony provoked Metcalf, and witnesses described Anthony as the aggressor. A police report indicated Anthony warned Metcalf, "Touch me and see what happens," before Metcalf pushed him. Witnesses then said Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf.
Anthony was expected back in court Thursday for a hearing to address the motion for a new trial.