Legal representatives for Karmelo Anthony have submitted formal requests for a new trial and the removal of the Collin County judge who oversaw his murder conviction, asserting that the defendant’s constitutional rights were compromised during the legal proceedings. Anthony, 19, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet on April 2, 2025. A jury subsequently sentenced him to 35 years in prison.
Anthony’s family recently hired a new legal team led by attorney Russell Wilson, who is providing representation without charge because the defendant lacks the funds to cover appeal costs. The defense filed a verified motion asking Judge John Roach to step aside from post-trial matters, alongside a 63-page motion demanding a new trial. Both requests ask that an independent judge review the issues.
The recusal motion focuses on remarks Roach made to reporters after the trial ended. The filing claims the judge shared personal views on the verdict’s correctness, the trial’s fairness, and his own rulings. When asked if the jury reached the right decision, Roach affirmed that they did. The defense also highlighted Roach’s comments defending his dismissal of three Black prospective jurors, noting the judge stated he followed the law precisely and was proud of that decision despite anticipated public perception.
In a separate statement to Fox 4 KDFW regarding the ban on courtroom cameras, Roach explained that the ruling was intended to protect the process, witnesses, and jury. He added that now that the trial is over, providing transparency is important to him. Anthony’s attorneys contend these statements show the judge has already formed opinions that could influence his handling of post-trial motions.
The motion for a new trial does not argue Anthony’s innocence. Instead, it outlines four constitutional and procedural issues. Attorneys claim the Sixth Amendment right to a public trial was violated because cameras were banned and only 27 seats were available for the public, with no overflow space. The filing also alleges prosecutors abandoned an off-the-record agreement to exclude character evidence if Anthony testified, forcing him to choose between testifying and facing damaging evidence.
