Karmelo Anthony seeks new trial in track meet stabbing case

The defense argues it forewent important character evidence on victim Austin Metcalf pursuant to a "gentleman's agreement" with the prosecution. Supporters for Karmelo Anthony demonstrate in front of the Collin County courthouse Thursday, June 4, 2026, in McKinney, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) McKINNEY, Texas (CN) — The public got its first look this week at what defense attorneys say was important evidence left out of Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial as the convicted killer fights for a second chance to prove his claim of self-defense in the fatal stabbing of fellow highschooler Austin Metcalf at a suburban Dallas track meet. In a two-day hearing that ended Friday evening, Anthony’s newly retained appellate team argued Judge Michael Chitty should grant Anthony’s motion for a new trial, arguing the defense forewent significant character evidence about Metcalf under an agreement with the prosecution that they say ultimately broke down, causing Anthony to forgo his right to testify in his own defense. Through a “gentleman’s agreement,” the two sides say they committed to avoiding character evidence and trying the case purely on what happened “under the tent” — a reference to the Memorial High School tent at the track meet where the stabbing took place. The defense argues that were it not for this agreement, Anthony’s trial counsel could have presented evidence showing Metcalf had a history of violence, bullying and racist statements, including an incident of racist graffiti in which the attorneys claim Metcalf and his twin brother Hunter spray-painted the words “KKK,” “kill all Black people” and “Heil Hitler.” But the prosecution argues the defense also benefitted from the deal, pointing to damaging evidence against Anthony that was also left out of the trial, including a text message in which Anthony says he wants to stab someone and “lick the blood off the blade.” Lead prosecutor Bill Wirskye testified the prosecution “gave up quite a bit” by not presenting that evidence. “It answers the question everybody had: Why did he bring a knife to a track meet?” Wirskye said. In June, a Collin County jury convicted 19-year-old Anthony of murdering Metcalf at an April 2025 districtwide track meet in Frisco, Texas. Witnesses say the confrontation began when Metcalf, who attended Memorial High School, asked Anthony, a Centennial High School student, to leave the Memorial High School tent. Anthony has maintained he acted in self-defense after Metcalf shoved him. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison. With a Black defendant and a white victim, the case quickly gained national attention and has become a flashpoint for racial tensions. On Wednesday, visiting Judge Sid Harle granted a defense motion to recuse Collin County Judge John Roach, who presided over the trial, from post-trial proceedings after he gave an interview with a local news outlet in which he said the jury “got it right.” Chitty, a retired judge from Kaufman County, was brought in to hear the motion for a new trial. During the hearing this week, Anthony’s trial attorneys claimed the agreement about character evidence broke down mid-trial when, right before Anthony was set to testify, the prosecution suddenly said the agreement “never contemplated a testifying defendant,” resulting in a shouting match between the two sides. Defense attorney Mike Howard testified that after a “cooling-off period,” he took the unusual step of previewing his intended direct examination of Anthony with the prosecution so Anthony could testify without opening the door to character evidence. But Roach said he couldn’t enforce the agreement between the two sides and that if a dispute arose he would rule on admissibility based on the rules of evidence. Howard said the incident left Anthony feeling that regardless of what he said in his testimony, Wirskye would say the door had been opened and that he would have character evidence “crammed down his throat.” “He didn’t feel that he had any other choic