A Texas judge denied a motion for a new trial for Karmelo Anthony on Saturday following his conviction for the 2025 killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. Judge Michael Chitty delivered the ruling after a two-day hearing in Collin County that examined the conduct of the original murder trial. Anthony was previously sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury rejected his claim of self-defense regarding a stabbing that occurred at a Frisco ISD track meet in April 2025.
The request for a new trial centered on allegations from Anthony’s new defense team that the original proceedings were conducted in an unconventional manner that prevented a fair trial. Defense attorney Russell Wilson argued that private, off-the-record "gentleman's agreements" between the prosecution and the original defense team limited the evidence presented to the jury. One of Anthony’s original trial attorneys, Toby Shook, testified that these agreements put the defense in a corner and discouraged Anthony from testifying in his own defense.
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye, who served as the state's only witness during the hearing, testified that there was no agreement preventing Anthony from taking the stand. Wirskye stated that the restrictions on background information and the use of private pre-trial hearings were necessary measures to protect the trial from threats, public pressure, and misinformation. The prosecution maintained that these controls were intended to focus the jury solely on the events of the stabbing at the high school track meet.
The scale of the case is defined by the 35-year sentence handed to Anthony and the specific legal precedents regarding public access to court proceedings. While the exact number of individuals affected by the private agreements was not reported, the defense argued that the lack of public access violated federal law. The hearing publicly disclosed previously withheld background information on both the defendant and the victim, including allegations of assault and stalking against Anthony, and assault, bullying, and racial slurs attributed to Metcalf.
The concrete day-to-day change for the defendant is that he will continue serving his sentence rather than preparing for a new trial. The case sets a precedent in Collin County regarding the use of private pre-trial hearings and informal agreements to restrict background evidence in high-profile murder trials. Following Judge Chitty’s Saturday ruling, the defense has not yet stated whether they intend to appeal the denial of the new trial to a higher court.