Karmelo Anthony's new legal team has filed post-conviction motions seeking to overturn his murder conviction, accusing the Collin County judge of bias and arguing that courtroom restrictions violated his constitutional right to a public trial. The filings request that Judge John Roach recuse himself from all remaining post-trial proceedings and also seek a new trial based on alleged constitutional and legal errors during Anthony's prosecution.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed during an altercation at a Frisco track meet. A Collin County jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison.
Recusal Motion
The defense's motion to recuse Judge Roach is based on public comments he made following the trial. According to court filings, Roach told reporters after the verdict that the jury "got it right" and defended several of his rulings, including his decision to dismiss three Black prospective jurors and his handling of courtroom access. The defense argues these statements create an appearance that the judge cannot impartially consider Anthony's request for a new trial.
Under Texas law, the recusal motion is expected to be referred to a regional administrative judge for a decision on whether a hearing is necessary. Fox News Digital sought comment from Roach's office but did not immediately receive a response.
Motion for New Trial
The accompanying 63-page motion for a new trial focuses on alleged constitutional violations. Among the central claims, the defense argues Anthony's Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated because cameras were barred from the courtroom and only 27 seats were available to the public during the proceedings.
Additionally, the attorneys contend that prosecutors failed to honor an off-the-record evidentiary agreement regarding character and extraneous-act evidence. This, the defense claims, forced Anthony to choose between testifying or exposing himself to prejudicial information. The motion also challenges the jury instructions, asserting they made it more difficult for jurors to fully consider Anthony's self-defense argument. The defense contends that the cumulative effect of these alleged errors deprived Anthony of a fair trial.
Russell Wilson, who leads Anthony's new legal team and agreed to represent him pro bono during the appeals process, did not immediately comment on the case when reached by Fox News Digital. His office stated he is not commenting at this time.
Judge Roach had previously defended his decision to prohibit cameras from the courtroom, telling Fox News at the time that the restrictions were intended to protect the judicial process, witnesses, and jurors, while promising greater transparency after the proceedings concluded.
