Karmelo Anthony Seeks New Trial After 35-Year Sentence

Karmelo Anthony's legal team is pursuing a new trial and requesting the recusal of a state judge, approximately one month after a Texas jury found the 19-year-old guilty of murder. The conviction stems from the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a track meet in 2025, for which Anthony received a 35-year prison sentence.

In a motion filed on Tuesday, Anthony's defense attorneys presented several arguments for overturning the conviction. A primary claim is that prosecutors coerced Anthony into waiving his constitutional right to testify during the trial. The defense asserts this coercion violated Anthony's due process rights and warrants a new legal proceeding.

Further details within the motion outline additional grounds for appeal, though specificities beyond the alleged prosecutorial misconduct were not immediately detailed in the initial reports. The defense aims to demonstrate that the original trial was compromised by procedural errors and undue influence, thereby invalidating the jury's verdict and subsequent sentencing.

The case involves the tragic death of Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old victim, and the conviction of Karmelo Anthony, who was 19 at the time of the sentencing. The legal battle now centers on whether Anthony received a fair trial and if the conviction should stand based on the new evidence and arguments presented by his defense team.