‘Denied’: Judge rules against new trial for Karmelo Anthony after previous judge is recused from case

Judge Michael Chitty, who replaced the trial judge for the hearing, made his decision on Saturday, weeks after Anthony secured a new legal team to take on his case.

A Texas judge has denied Karmelo Anthony‘s bid for a new trial after the teenager was convicted of murder in the stabbing death of a high school student, Austin Metcalf, during an April 2025 track meet.

Retired Kaufman County District Judge Michael Chitty rejected Anthony’s motion on Saturday, ruling that the arguments presented by his new defense team did not meet his standing for ordering a new trial.

“Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument, the briefs, and the relevant case law, the Court has determined the motion should be denied,” Chitty wrote in a brief order.

Anthony’s attorneys argued that he was “coerced” into not testifying, thereby denying him a fair opportunity to testify in his own defense following a dispute over an alleged “gentlemen’s agreement” between prosecutors and his former defense attorney, Mike Howard, as it pertained to character evidence for both Metcalf and Anthony. Additionally, Anthony’s defense team argued that certain courtroom restrictions during his trial affected his right to receive a fair trial.

Citty wrote that after reviewing the motion, evidence arguments and relevant case law, the court determined that Anthony’s defense team’s request should be denied. There were no cameras in the courtroom during the hearing for Anthony’s potential new trial.

A Collin County jury convicted Anthony in June after jurors deliberated for nearly three hours about the case. On the same day, the same jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison. During the June trial, Howard argued that Anthony acted in self-defense during the confrontation with Metcalf, while prosecutors argued that the stabbing was unjustified.

Collin County First Assistant District Attorney. Bill Wirskye stated that trial defense attorneys agreed to the arrangement that would keep the focus of the trial strictly on what occurred under the tent and “stay away from historical character and stick to the facts” and to “keep the peace” as the case had garnered national attention because Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white.

“I knew this case was going to be racially charged, divisive, and media would make it about race,” Wirskye said while testifying during the hearing, according to WFAA.

Anthony’s legal team can appeal the decision.