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Andrew Anthony, Karmelo Anthony’s father, speaks during a news conference in Dallas, Texas, Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Karmelo Anthony\u2019s appeal for his murder conviction is pending before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, where his attorneys expect to begin filing arguments this fall in a process that could stretch well into next year.<\/p>\n
Anja Schlein\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Karmelo Anthony<\/a>\u2019s parents stood hand-in-hand Wednesday in a South Dallas church as his father thanked supporters and vowed that the family would continue fighting their son\u2019s murder conviction<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe love you, son,\u201d Andrew Anthony said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to keep fighting, and this is not over.\u201d<\/p>\n The next step in that fight is already underway. Anthony\u2019s appeal is pending before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, where his attorneys expect to begin filing arguments this fall in a process that could stretch well into next year.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Anthony is serving a 35-year sentence after a Collin County jury convicted him in June of murdering 17-year-old Austin\u00a0Metcalf at a Frisco high school track meet in 2025. Anthony maintained that he acted in self-defense.<\/p>\n Russell Wilson, Anthony\u2019s lead appellate attorney, said during a news conference Wednesday that he expects the record from the 19-year-old\u2019s Collin County murder case to be filed with the appeals court Oct. 7. Anthony\u2019s attorneys could file their first brief roughly 30 days later, followed by a response from prosecutors and another filing from the defense.<\/p>\n Those deadlines could be extended, Wilson said, and briefing may not be finished until early next year. The appeals court would then review the case and issue a written opinion. It could also hear oral arguments.<\/p>\n Related: How the case against Karmelo Anthony unfolded<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is just really the first stage of appeal,\u201d Wilson said during the news conference at The Uncommon Church in South Dallas.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Anthony\u2019s parents, Andrew Anthony and Kala Hayes, stood behind Dominique Alexander, president of the Next Generation Action Network, and attorneys Wilson and Sean Daredia throughout the news conference. The father said the past year has been a struggle for the family, citing doxxing and having to move, but said they continue to lean on their faith in God.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wilson described Anthony\u2019s adjustment to prison as difficult. His parents nodded as Wilson spoke about their son.<\/p>\n \u201cThe support is helpful, but it doesn\u2019t make it any less challenging,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cWe\u2019re regularly in touch with him to make sure that he\u2019s doing as well as he can.\u201d<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s news conference came less than two weeks after a judge denied Anthony\u2019s request for a new trial<\/a>. Wilson said some people mistakenly believed that ruling ended Anthony\u2019s effort to overturn his conviction.<\/p>\n Instead, Wilson said, the new trial hearing helped attorneys put issues into the court record that can now be reviewed on appeal.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related: New court records challenge Karmelo Anthony retrial motion<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n During that hearing, Anthony\u2019s attorneys focused on an informal agreement between prosecutors and Anthony\u2019s original trial lawyers<\/a> to limit potentially damaging evidence about the histories of both Anthony and Metcalf.<\/p>\n Anthony\u2019s attorneys argued that uncertainty over whether prosecutors would continue honoring the agreement affected Anthony\u2019s decision not to testify and violated his constitutional rights. Prosecutors disputed that account.<\/p>\n Wilson said Wednesday that the appeal will focus on legal claims the defense has already developed rather than new evidence. He said his team found additional information while preparing for the hearing but did not believe all of it needed to be placed into the record.<\/p>\n \u201cThere may be additional information that will come forward\u201d if Anthony receives a new trial, Wilson said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The attorneys acknowledged there is no guarantee Anthony\u2019s conviction will be overturned, but said they believe the issues they plan to raise are significant.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n