Karmelo Anthony’s request for a second trial was turned down by a city judge in Kaufman County after he was just found guilty of murder in Collin County.
Austin Metcalf, a other high school student, was stabbed at a track meet in April 2025, and Anthony was found guilty. Anthony received a 35-year jail sentence that will allow him to seek release in 17-years.
Following a hearing on the demand for a novel test on August 20 and a reading on August 22, Judge Michael Chitty signed the order.
The Court has determined that the case may be denied, according to Chitty in a short article about the pay for a lawsuit.
The case attracted national interest because it sparked racial tensions and inquiries as to the cause of the conflict. The prosecutors alleged that Metcalf, who is white, was attacked by Anthony under a tent at their universities ‘ record meet, while the security claimed that Anthony, who is black, was acting in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf. The two individuals were from various backgrounds.
Russell Wilson, a defense lawyer, requested the request in June 2026, citing “four grounds” for a lawsuit. He claimed that the court “violated” Anthony’s constitutional rights by limiting the public’s access to the test, “violated” his defense, and instructed the judge “improperly” on” the appropriate law.” In the interest of fairness, Wilson came to the conclusion that the combined effects of these issues necessitate a new trial.
Chitty, but, turned down the request, and Anthony may continue to serve the 35-year prison term.
The Stand With Karmelo partnership, an advocacy group in Anthony’s support, claimed about the ruling rejection that they were “disappointed” but no “deterred” by the decision.
The organization continued,” We continue to maintain that significant constitutional and lawful issues prevented Karmelo Anthony from receiving the fair trial to which he was entitled.”
The Texan received an email from the office of Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis about the trial’s progress, saying,” We respect, and anticipated, the judge’s decision denying the activity for a new trial. We are confident in the outcome of the judge’s guilty verdict, which still stands.
In the agonizing aftermath of last week’s hearing, the Metcalf home is in the family’s thoughts and prayers, they continued.
Democratic state representative James Talarico (D-Austin ), who is currently running for Texas ‘ U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 election, recently made headlines when he was asked what his opinion was on Anthony’s conviction.
We know that black Texans have not received the justice they deserve in many cases, and we know that this program currently serves all American likewise. ” I’m not an expert on this situation, but I know that there were no black members of the jury, and to me, that’s the only way to actually demonstrate that the system is not working for black Texans,” said one witness.
The conversation was then moved to the 2021 House Bill 54, or” Javier Andler’s Law,” which forbids the shooting of police interactions with citizens. The case of black man Javier Andler, who died after being tased while being detained by Williamson County authorities in 2019 while the reality TV program” Life PD” was being recorded inspired it.
In a video that went viral earlier this month of a town hall event in Houston, Talarico also nodded in agreement with a vote who called the judgment a” drama.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico’s player in the U.S. Senate race, said on X in reference to the new appointment that” Karmelo Anthony was a violent criminal who killed Austin Metcalf in cold heart.”
James Talarico and a murderer are” sitting together,” he wrote.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX ), who was present for the interview, stated in an interview with NewsMax that Anthony had stabbed another boy in the heart, a boy he didn’t know, without any provocation, and that he killed him.
They are praising the murderer and calling the conviction of the criminal a tragedy. Here’s a radical statement: murderers should be punished, and you are aware of what Talarico don’t control. To suggest that phrase, he said.
Cruz has recently made headlines for his support for the Texas U.S. Senate race, with Axios reporting that a Cruz-linked super PAC will donate more than$ 1.7 million to a Paxton-supporting ad campaign. The information come after new polls suggested a tightening culture.
This is unheard of, Talarico’s plan claimed about the advertising campaign growth. Ted Cruz has written in the same message asking for donations that we cannot allow him to purchase this Ken Paxton race. ” National Republicans are raising the alarm about Texas. You can tell how concerned they are when Ted Cruz uses income from his own combat chest.
