Judge denies Karmelo Anthony’s request for new trial in deadly stabbing at Frisco, Texas track meet despite the defense and prosecution’s ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ not to share character flaws & histories of both the convicted murderer and victim, Austin Metcalf.
A Texas judge has denied a bid for a new trial for Karmelo Anthony, who had been sentenced to 35 years for fatally stabbing a fellow student at a Frisco, Texas high school track meet last year.
Anthony, 19, was found guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf, 17, on June 9 and sentenced to 35 years in prison after fatally stabbing the football star at a school track meet in April 2025.
Anthony requested a retrial last week, arguing that his rights were violated throughout pretrial hearings and that former Collin County Judge John Roach held undocumented conferences.
Karmelo Anthony defense demand new trial
His legal team also argued that Anthony was denied his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial because of decisions that limited courtroom access during it. The defense maintained the teen acted in self-defense, while prosecutors argued the killing was ‘unjustified’ and ‘plain and simple murder.’
In their motion seeking a retrial, Anthony’s new attorneys claimed that the teen was ‘coerced’ into waiving his right to testify, stemming from a purported dispute between defense attorneys and prosecutors about whether his testimony would be covered by the agreement limiting certain character evidence in the trial. Defense attorneys alleged this denied him a ‘complete defense.’
The defense also alleged that Collin County Judge John Roach’s courtroom restrictions, which limited public access to the proceedings, denied Anthony a fair trial.
But it was not to be.
Judge denies defense demands for new trial for convicted killer
Come Saturday, Michael Chitty, the new judge who is handling his case, denied Anthony’s request for a new trial.
‘Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, the briefs, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined that the motion should be denied,’ the judge’s order stated.
‘It is therefore considered, ordered, and adjudged by the Court that the Motion for New Trial is denied.’
Anthony’s legal team can appeal the ruling, ABC News reported.
Chitty’s decision came after testimony concluded on Friday evening, when chaos broke out in the courtroom after new information about Anthony and Metcalf was revealed.
The judge heard how both the defense and prosecution willingly entered into a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ prior to trial proceedings – which could ultimately undermine the defense’s belief that rights were violated.
Gentleman’s agreement not to reveal prior incidents and allegd character flaws
As part of the deal, incredibly damaging information about both Anthony and Metcalf was left out of the trial, with the jury only hearing about ‘what happened under the tent’ referring to the track team tent where the stabbing happened.
Those details came to light in front of the judge on Friday – including that Anthony threatened to shoot up a school when he was 16, and that he had threatened to shoot and stab his girlfriend.
‘Imma shoot the school up tmr,’ Anthony, 19, texted in 2023 when he was attending Centennial High School in Frisco, according to court testimony.
He also threatened his girlfriend, Valeria Perez, in 2024, prosecutors said.
‘How many bullets you want coming out of your chest,’ he threatened Perez, according to the testimony.
That same year, he threatened to stab her, according to lawyers for the state.
A few weeks later, he sent her a text revealing a disturbing, violent fantasy.
‘When I stab someone, I’m gonna lick the blood off the blade,’ the text stated.
Perez is still dating Anthony and supported him in court.
Prosecutors unveiled this information in a bid to disprove the defense’s argument that Anthony’s rights were violated.
BREAKING NEWS: Austin Metcalf has 20 pages of RACIST & VIOLENT behavioral history. Keep in mind Karmelo Anthony defended himself, AFTER Austin assaulted him first.#FreeKarmeloAnthonyhttps://t.co/TrkIpHJ2yz pic.twitter.com/gW4mr1h5Go
— Jerome Trammel, MBA (@MrJeromeTrammel) August 21, 2026
Race, politics and white privilege
Metcalf’s history of arrests, problems at school, and racist behavior was also revealed for the first time during the hearing.
Anthony’s lawyers claimed Metcalf was allegedly caught spray-painting racist graffiti, including ‘kill all black people’ and the N-word, defense attorneys revealed.
He ultimately received 12 months of probation for the incident, according to Anthony’s lawyer, who also revealed that Austin had previously faced charges for assault causing bodily injury and had been arrested.
Anthony admitted he stabbed and killed Metcalf at a football stadium in Frisco during the track meet, but maintained he did so in self-defense.
Almost immediately after his arrest at the track meet, the case became a national flashpoint over race, politics, and privilege.
However, a diverse jury – which included Hispanic, Asian, and Indian people – declined to side with the defense’s ‘self defense’ claim, or the possibility of sentencing Anthony to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
In just three hours, the jury found Anthony guilty of murder and sentenced him to 35 years behind bars for the crime.
Karmelo Anthony has been denied his request for a new trial by a Texas Judge
Can we get a wellness check on this guy👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/X2Id8O5tuK
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) August 22, 2026
Latest incident of America polarized
Within days of his trial ending, Anthony’s parents, Kayla Hayes and Andrew Anthony, claimed their son had not had a fair trial and promised to fight for a new one.
Just two months after his conviction, Anthony acquired a new high-powered legal team of six lawyers who have alleged that the teenager’s rights were violated during the trial.
Roach, the judge who presided over Anthony’s trial, was ordered to be removed from the case after his legal team argued that the judge enforced very strict courtroom rules and gave an interview after the trial concluded.
Anthony’s supporters continue to claim that he stabbed Metcalf in self-defense after being bullied, shoved, and provoked.
Meanwhile, those opposing Anthony said the stabbing was an overreaction that did not need to end in death. Metcalf was unarmed when Anthony stabbed him that day.
The case continues to polarize America, with the fatal stabbing igniting wounds and recriminations surrounding race, politics and privilege.
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