Karmelo Anthony, convicted of the murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, is seeking a new trial and has requested that the judge who oversaw his conviction be removed from any future proceedings. Anthony's defense team confirmed the filings, which include a Verified Motion to Recuse targeting Judge John Roach and a Motion for New Trial that raises constitutional and legal challenges.
These legal maneuvers come just weeks after a Collin County jury found the 19-year-old Anthony guilty of murder and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. The jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching its verdict, rejecting Anthony's self-defense claim. The fatal stabbing occurred in April 2025 at a high school track meet.
Anthony's legal team has not publicly detailed the specific reasons for seeking Judge Roach's removal. However, advice provided to Anthony's family by attorney Lee Merritt, who is not part of the current defense team, suggested potential appeal arguments. These included examining whether racial bias played a role, noting that no Black jurors were on the panel, and questioning the effectiveness of the legal representation during the trial. Merritt had previously stated that Anthony's previous attorneys allegedly provided a "complete lack of a defense" and failed to call essential witnesses during the sentencing phase.
Anthony and Metcalf, who attended different high schools, had no prior acquaintance. Their encounter at the track meet escalated when Metcalf, instructed by his coach to prevent students from other schools from gathering at the team tent, confronted Anthony. Anthony was reportedly asked to leave the tent at least 15 times. The confrontation intensified when Metcalf moved to shove Anthony, who then produced a folding knife from his backpack and fatally stabbed Metcalf. Metcalf died at the scene with his twin brother by his side.
Following the conviction, Anthony's parents engaged a new legal team to pursue an appeal. This team includes Michael Ware, who leads the Texas Innocence Project and focuses on exonerating inmates, though Anthony is a private client of Ware's, not a client of the Innocence Project itself.
Anthony is currently being held in protective custody at the Wallace Pack Unit, a men's prison near Navasota, Texas, approximately one hour outside of Houston. Any decision on whether to grant a new trial based on the legal issues raised by Anthony's defense could take months, if not years, to be determined by a judge. Metsalf's family has declined to comment on the matter. Judge Roach has not yet responded to requests for comment.
