19-year-old convicted of murdering fellow teenager seeks to overturn 35-year sentence as defense claims courtroom was closed and judge lost neutrality

A high-stakes legal battle is unfolding in Collin County as 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony’s new defense team formally demands both a retrial and the permanent removal of the judge who oversaw his murder conviction.

Anthony was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco high school track meet in April 2025. Now, his appellate attorneys have filed two powerful motions that could reshape the entire case: a verified motion to recuse Collin County Judge John Roach and a detailed 63-page motion for a new trial.

The defense argues that Judge Roach compromised his neutrality by publicly defending both the jury’s verdict and his own courtroom decisions in post-trial media interviews. When a reporter asked whether the jury got the verdict right, Roach answered, “Yeah, they did.” He also discussed his decision to dismiss three Black potential jurors, saying he followed the law “to a T” and was “proud” of the ruling, while acknowledging that public perception might be different. Anthony’s lawyers contend these comments make it impossible for the judge to fairly rule on any remaining post-trial matters.

The motion for a new trial does not claim that Anthony is innocent. Instead, it focuses on what the defense describes as serious consтιтutional problems that occurred during the original proceedings.

First, attorneys argue the courtroom was effectively closed to the public. No media cameras were allowed, and only 27 seats were available for observers. The defense says this arrangement violated Anthony’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial.

Second, the motion claims prosecutors broke an off-the-record evidentiary agreement. According to the defense, the two sides had agreed to keep certain character and extraneous-act evidence out of the trial. When that agreement allegedly collapsed, Anthony was forced into a difficult choice: either remain silent or take the stand and risk opening the door to potentially damaging information.

Third, the defense challenges the jury instructions, arguing they made it unnecessarily difficult for jurors to properly consider a self-defense claim. Taken together, the attorneys say these issues created a cumulative effect so serious that a new trial is required.

Judge Roach is expected to refer the recusal motion to a regional administrative judge, who will decide whether a formal hearing is necessary. The new legal team, led by appellate attorney Russell Wilson and working on a pro bono basis, continues to press for the conviction and 35-year sentence to be overturned.

Anthony remains incarcerated at the Pack Unit near Navasota while the appeal process moves forward. Legal observers note that an appeal does not automatically result in a new trial and can take many months — sometimes longer — to resolve.

The case has continued to draw significant public attention because of the ages of those involved, the setting of the fatal confrontation at a high school sporting event, and the intense emotions that have surrounded the proceedings from the beginning. Supporters on both sides remain deeply invested in the outcome, making every new legal development closely watched.

For now, the focus has shifted from the original trial to the integrity of the process itself. Anthony’s attorneys are asking the courts to examine whether the proceedings met consтιтutional standards and whether the trial judge can continue to participate in any further decisions. The answers to those questions will determine the next chapter in a case that has already left a lasting mark on two families and the wider community.