Convicted killer Karmelo Anthony’s bid for a retrial was shot down by a Texas judge Saturday.
The 19-year-old lawyers argued that the murder trial was compromised due to strict courtroom rules, and improper instructions to the jury. They also clashed with prosecutors over an agreement to focus on events leading up to the fatal stabbing.
Anthony was found guilty of murder on June 9 and sentenced to 35 years in prison for fatally stabbing another high school student, Austin Metcalf, at a track meet near Dallas.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP
The teen murderer scored a legal win following his conviction by getting the original Judge John Roach tossed from the case after he told a reporter with a local outlet that jurors “got it right” when they convicted Anthony.
“Yeah, they did, whatever they say, they got it right,” Roach told WFAA TV.
Anthony, who did not testify in his trial, claimed to have acted in self-defense when he stabbed Metcalf, 17, inside a tent at the April 2025 track meet.
The stabbing occurred after Metcalf told Anthony to leave the tent, which belonged to his high school.
Anthony sat under the Memorial High School tent which was erected beneath the bleachers at the meet that multiple high schools were taking part in when Metcalf and other students repeatedly told him to leave.
The situation escalated and Anthony threatened Metcalf: “touch me and see what happens,” according to a police report.
Metcalf pushed Anthony – who witnesses testified was the aggressor – who pulled a knife put of his bag and fatally stabbed the football standout.