Texas court upholds 35-year sentence for Karmelo Anthony in track meet stabbing

Key points

Retired Judge Michael Chitty denied the retrial motion on Saturday, leaving the June 2026 murder conviction and 35-year sentence intact.

The defense argued that prosecutors violated an off-the-record agreement to exclude character evidence, which caused Anthony to withdraw his planned testimony at the last minute.

Judge John Roach, who presided over the original trial, was removed from the retrial hearing after publicly defending the jury’s verdict in a media interview.

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis stated the office expected the denial and remains confident in the trial process.

Anthony’s attorney, Russell Wilson, confirmed the defense will pursue a direct appeal of the conviction.

Background

Karmelo Anthony, 19, was convicted in June 2026 of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The case drew national attention due to racial tensions and social media harassment. Earlier this month, Judge Roach was recused after comments suggesting bias, leading to Judge Chitty overseeing the retrial motion. The defense claimed an oral agreement with prosecutors to limit character evidence was broken, preventing Anthony from testifying in support of a self-defense claim.

How outlets are covering it

The Guardian and NBC News emphasize the defense’s claim that prosecutors broke an unwritten deal to keep damaging character evidence out of the trial, which led Anthony to forgo testifying. Fox News provides more detail on the testimony of former defense attorneys Mike Howard and Toby Shook, who argued the agreement covered Anthony’s testimony, while prosecutor Bill Wirskye disputed that the deal was broken or that it applied to testimony. All outlets agree that Judge Chitty’s order was brief and did not detail the reasoning, but they differ on the emphasis of the procedural failures versus the strength of the original evidence. The Dallas Morning News, cited by The Guardian, noted that the withheld evidence included allegations of racist behavior by Metcalf and violent fantasies by Anthony.

Why it matters

The denial of the retrial motion solidifies the 35-year sentence for a high-profile case that highlighted issues of racial tension and procedural fairness in Texas courts. The outcome sets the stage for a direct appeal, where the defense will likely challenge the handling of character evidence and the recusal of the original judge. The case remains a focal point for discussions on trial transparency and the impact of social media on criminal proceedings.

What to watch

Anthony’s legal team will file a direct appeal of the murder conviction. The appeal will likely focus on the alleged breach of the oral agreement regarding character evidence and the impartiality of the original trial judge. The Metcalf family has expressed support for the verdict, with Hunter Metcalf defending his brother’s character in public statements.