Karmelo Anthony Seeks New Trial, Judge’s Removal

The Karmelo Anthony new trial motion judge removal request reached the court on July 7, 2026. Anthony’s legal team filed a 63-page motion challenging his murder conviction. A jury convicted the 19-year-old in June for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, track meet in April 2025. The defense recently added several civil rights and criminal defense attorneys to handle the appeals process. The motion asks the court to overturn the conviction and order a new trial. As a result, the high-profile case has entered another major legal battle.

The defense argues that prosecutors broke an off-the-record agreement before the trial. According to court documents obtained by WFAA, both sides agreed not to introduce character or reputation evidence about Anthony or the Metcalf twins. Instead, they planned to focus only on what happened under the team tent during the stabbing. The attorneys also documented that agreement in a generic court filing. They hand-delivered the filing and kept it off the public docket.

Defense says agreement changed trial strategy

The agreement shaped nearly every defense decision during the trial. Anthony’s attorneys chose not to call certain expert witnesses. They also limited cross-examinations to honor the agreement. The defense says prosecutors changed their position when Anthony prepared to testify. According to the motion, prosecutors told the court they would no longer honor the agreement if Anthony took the witness stand. That decision forced the defense to reconsider its entire strategy.

Judge John Roach ruled that he could not enforce the agreement. He then gave Anthony 10 minutes to decide whether to testify. The defense says Anthony faced an impossible choice. He could testify and risk damaging character evidence, or remain silent after honoring the agreement throughout the trial. Anthony ultimately chose not to testify. His attorneys argue that the prosecution’s reversal denied him a fair trial.

First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye rejected those claims. In a statement to NBC 5, he said the motion contains several inaccurate descriptions of the trial. He also said prosecutors followed the law, respected the court’s rulings, and honored every agreement with defense attorneys. Wirskye added that prosecutors will file a detailed written response in the coming weeks.

Defense asks court to remove Judge Roach

Anthony’s attorneys also filed a separate motion seeking Judge Roach’s removal. They pointed to a recent interview Roach gave to WFAA-TV after the trial. According to the defense, the judge discussed his handling of the case and expressed opinions about the verdict. The attorneys argue those comments raise reasonable questions about his impartiality. They want another judge to decide the new trial request before the appeal continues.

The defense also criticized several courtroom restrictions. During the trial, Judge Roach prohibited cameras, livestreams, and audio recordings. He also reduced public seating and issued a gag order covering attorneys, witnesses, and others connected to the case. Anthony’s lawyers argue those restrictions violated his constitutional right to a public trial. Roach defended his decisions during the WFAA interview. He said his goal was to guarantee a fair trial for both sides.

Trial continues to draw national attention

The Karmelo Anthony case has attracted widespread attention since the April 2025 stabbing. Prosecutors argued that the confrontation began after Austin Metcalf and his twin brother asked Anthony to leave a Memorial High School team tent. The defense argued that Anthony feared for his safety after Metcalf made physical contact. His attorneys maintained that he acted in self-defense. Public demonstrations and debates over race continued throughout the trial.

The jury convicted Anthony of murder in June and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. The verdict sparked strong public reactions across the country. Several public figures, including Cardi B, questioned whether the sentence fit the circumstances of the case. Now, Anthony’s attorneys hope the new motions will convince the court to order another trial. Until then, the legal fight will continue through the appeals process.