A Texas judge denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial in the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, leaving his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence in place.
Judge Michael Chitty issued the ruling on Saturday after a two-day hearing.
Karmelo Anthony (Photo: Texas Department of Criminal Justice)
“Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined that the motion should be denied,” Chitty wrote in his ruling, according to WFAA.
Anthony, 19, was convicted in June for murdering Metcalf during a confrontation at a Frisco high school track meet in April 2025. Jurors rejected Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defense.
Judge denies Karmelo Anthony’s request for new trial in fatal stabbing at Texas track meet (Photos: Collin County)
The hearing brought previously undisclosed records and messages involving both teens into public view, WFAA noted. Prosecutors reportedly said Anthony had a history of fighting and discipline issues while attending school in Louisiana as a child and teenager.
Citing prosecutors, WFAA reported that Anthony sent text messages about fighting, weapons, and difficulty controlling his anger. Prosecutors said Anthony sent a message in 2023 threatening to “shoot up” a school,” according to the media outlet.
He also allegedly fantasized about stabbing someone and “licking the blood off of the blade,” per The Daily Mail.
The messages were not presented to the jury during his trial.
Judge denies Karmelo Anthony’s request for new trial in fatal stabbing at Texas track meet (Photos: Collin County)
At the center of Anthony’s retrial request was an off-the-record agreement between prosecutors and his trial defense team to keep damaging character evidence about both Anthony and Metcalf out of the proceedings. Both sides agreed to hold back evidence that risked further inflaming a case already boiling with racial tensions and death threats.
Anthony’s attorneys argued that the informal agreement affected defense strategy and Anthony’s decision not to testify. Prosecutors maintained the trial was fair.
Defense attorney Russell Wilson said Anthony plans to appeal. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said the jury’s guilty verdict stands and that his office remains confident in the process.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.