Attorneys for Karmelo Anthony have filed motions seeking a new trial and the removal of the Collin County judge who presided over his murder case, arguing Anthony’s constitutional rights were violated during the proceedings.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco track meet on April 2, 2025. A Collin County jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
Anthony’s family recently retained a new legal team led by attorney Russell Wilson, who said he is representing Anthony pro bono because the teen cannot afford legal fees during the appeals process.
The defense filed a verified motion asking Judge John Roach to recuse himself from post-trial proceedings, along with a separate 63-page motion requesting a new trial. Attorneys asked that both matters be considered by an independent judge.
Defense Challenges Judge’s Public Comments
The recusal motion centers on comments Roach made to reporters after the trial concluded.
According to the filing, the judge “expressed personal opinions about the propriety and correctness of the jury’s verdict, the fairness of the trial and the correctness of the judge’s own rulings during the trial,” Fox 4 KDFW reported.
When asked whether the jury reached the correct verdict, Roach responded, “Yeah, they did.”
The defense also cited Roach’s remarks defending his decision to dismiss three Black prospective jurors, saying he “followed the law in that case” and “did it to a T,” adding that he was “proud of that” despite knowing “what the perception was gonna be.”
In a separate statement to Fox regarding his decision to prohibit cameras in the courtroom, Roach said, “I understood the public’s desire to know what happened in the courtroom. The overwhelming focus on my ruling regarding the media in courtroom was to protect the process, witnesses, and jury. Now that the trial is over, it is important to me to provide transparency.”
Anthony’s attorneys argue those statements demonstrate the judge has already expressed opinions that could affect his handling of post-trial motions.
Motion Does Not Claim Innocence
The defense’s motion for a new trial does not argue that Anthony is innocent. Instead, it raises four constitutional and procedural issues that attorneys contend warrant a new trial.
Among the claims, attorneys argue Anthony’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated because cameras were prohibited and only 27 seats were available for members of the public, with no overflow room provided during testimony.
The filing also alleges prosecutors abandoned an off-the-record agreement to exclude character and extraneous-act evidence. According to the defense, prosecutors informed attorneys on the final day of testimony that the agreement would no longer apply if Anthony testified, forcing him to choose between exercising his right to testify and exposing himself to potentially damaging evidence.
Attorneys further argue that the jury instructions improperly limited jurors’ ability to fully consider Anthony’s claim of self-defense.
“On a record in which self-defense was the heart of the case, that error was not harmless, and it requires a new trial,” the motion states, per The Guardian.
Finally, the defense argues the cumulative effect of the alleged errors deprived Anthony of a fair trial.
Prosecutors Dispute Allegations
The Collin County District Attorney’s Office rejected the defense’s claims and said it will respond through court filings.
“The defendant’s new lawyers have filed a motion containing several inaccurate characterizations of the trial proceedings,” First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye said in a statement, per The Guardian. “I and the entire prosecution team conducted this trial ethically and in full compliance with the Court’s rulings and any agreements with defense counsel.”
“The jury heard extensive evidence over the course of the trial and returned a unanimous verdict. We remain confident in that verdict and the fairness of the proceedings,” he added.
Case Drew National Attention
Witnesses testified that Anthony, a Centennial High School student, fatally stabbed Metcalf during a dispute over seating beneath the Memorial High School tent at a regional track meet in Frisco. There was no evidence that the two teenagers knew each other before the encounter.
The case received widespread national attention and generated debate over Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defense.
Anthony has been transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and is being held at the Wallace Pack Unit in Navasota while the post-trial motions are pending.
Judge Roach is expected to refer the recusal request to a regional administrative judge, who will determine whether to hold a hearing on the matter.
Provided by Dallas Express
