Convicted killer Karmelo Anthony has secured a preliminary legal victory in his effort to overturn his murder conviction. The teenager, who was 19 at the time of the ruling, is seeking to have his conviction for the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf thrown out.
On Wednesday, the state District Judge John Roach, who presided over Anthony's trial, was removed from the case. Anthony's legal team argued that a retrial was warranted, citing Roach's enforcement of overly strict courtroom rules and an interview he gave after the trial concluded. A new judge will be assigned to hear the retrial request on Thursday.
Anthony was convicted in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder, which occurred at a high school track meet in April of last year. He attended the hearing in Collin County wearing a green jumpsuit. Both Anthony's parents and Metcalf's parents were present in the courtroom.
Following the order to remove Judge Roach, supporters of Anthony reacted with cheers in the courthouse hallways and outside the building.
The fatal altercation took place at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, during a track meet. Prosecutors contended that Anthony provoked Metcalf. Witnesses testified that Anthony was the aggressor. According to a police report, Anthony reached inside a bag and issued a threat when Metcalf approached him. Metcalf then leaned in to shove Anthony, who responded by stabbing Metcalf in the heart with a folding knife concealed in his backpack. A medical examiner testified that the knife pierced through bone in the center of the chest and punctured the right side of the heart.
Jurors in Dallas deliberated for less than three hours before convicting Anthony of murder, rejecting a lesser charge of manslaughter.