Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison, is seeking a new trial, with his new legal team alleging a secret agreement between prosecutors and his original defense counsel prevented crucial evidence from being presented to the jury. The unsealed court documents claim Anthony endured "substantial" abuse at home, a factor his current lawyers argue could have swayed the jury.
Anthony, 19, was found guilty earlier this summer of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf on April 2, 2025. The fatal altercation occurred at a football stadium in Frisco, Texas, during a track meet. According to court documents, a verbal confrontation escalated when Metcalf leaned in to shove Anthony. Anthony then stabbed Metcalf in the heart with a folding knife from his backpack.
Jurors in Dallas deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Anthony of murder, rejecting a lesser charge of manslaughter. He was subsequently sentenced to 35 years.
The newly filed documents reveal an alleged "gentlemen's agreement" where both sides agreed to withhold potentially damaging information about both teenagers. Anthony's lawyers stated that in reliance on this agreement, the defense did not present evidence of "substantial family violence" that Mr. Anthony had witnessed and been a victim of. This deal, struck between Anthony's former attorney Mike Howard and prosecutors, was reportedly intended to focus the trial solely on the events that transpired under a high school tent at the stadium.
In exchange for the defense not pursuing evidence related to the Metcalf twins' character, reputation, or violent and bullying behavior, prosecutors allegedly agreed not to use Anthony's cellphone records and school disciplinary history. Dominque Alexander, a Dallas community activist, expressed skepticism about the agreement, stating he and Anthony's family were unaware of it until recently. Alexander suggested that this secret deal may have influenced Anthony's decision not to testify in his own defense.
Experts suggest that proving the alleged abuse impacted the trial significantly could be a difficult challenge on appeal. Defense attorney Lisa Figueroa, who is not involved in the case, called the agreement "odd" and noted that the defense did not use the alleged abuse as mitigation during the sentencing phase, a strategy that could have argued for leniency based on past trauma.
The victim's father, Jeff Metcalf, declined to comment on ongoing court proceedings or allegations of racism and violent behavior attributed to his sons. The prosecution team, led by District Attorney Wirskye, has stated they stand by the case and that the trial was conducted ethically and in full compliance with court rulings and agreements.
Anthony's appeal is scheduled for its next hearing on Wednesday, August 19.