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Judge Rejects Karmelo Anthony’s Request for New Trial in Austin Metcalf Case

Karmelo Anthony’s conviction and 35-year prison sentence will remain in place after a Texas judge rejected his request for a new trial. According to Fox News , retired District Judge Michael Chitty signed the order…

Andrew PowellAug 24, 20263 min read

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Karmelo Anthony’s conviction and 35-year prison sentence will remain in place after a Texas judge rejected his request for a new trial.

According to Fox News, retired District Judge Michael Chitty signed the order Saturday after reviewing Anthony’s motion, the trial record, evidence, legal arguments and relevant case law.

The order, filed Monday, did not explain why the request was denied.

The ruling means Anthony’s legal team will now continue challenging his conviction through a direct appeal.

Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said prosecutors expected the outcome and remain confident in the jury’s verdict.

"We respect, and expected, the court’s decision denying the motion for a new trial. The jury’s guilty verdict stands, and we remain confident in the process," Willis said.

"Every defendant has the right to appeal, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Metcalf family in the painful wake of last week’s hearing," he added.

The ruling followed two days of testimony during a new-trial hearing in McKinney.

Chitty was assigned to the case after Judge Sid Harle removed Judge John Roach, who presided over Anthony’s original trial, from the remaining proceedings.

Harle determined that a reasonable outside observer could question Roach’s impartiality after he publicly said the jury "got it right" and defended several decisions made during the trial.

Anthony’s attorneys had raised several issues in their effort to secure a new trial. One centered on an alleged oral agreement between the defense and prosecutors concerning character evidence.

Former defense attorneys Mike Howard and Toby Shook testified that they understood the agreement would allow Anthony to testify about the confrontation without opening the door to potentially damaging character evidence.

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye disputed that interpretation, saying the attorneys never clearly established what the agreement would cover if Anthony testified. He also said prosecutors remained willing to honor the agreement.

The defense argued the dispute contributed to Anthony’s decision not to testify in support of his self-defense claim.

Chitty also considered arguments concerning courtroom access and jury instructions.

Anthony’s lawyers argued that restrictions on public access violated his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial and that the instructions limited how jurors could consider self-defense.

Anthony, 19, was convicted in June of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a Frisco track meet. The Collin County jury sentenced him to 35 years in prison.

After the ruling, Metcalf’s twin brother, Hunter, defended Austin in an Instagram post, calling him "the most caring, loyal boy you could ever meet" and "the biggest hugger you could ever meet."

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