Outrageous untried request by murderer Karmelo Anthony revealed after killing of Austin Metcalf

Karmelo Anthony's legal team has made an outrageous new request after being convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf.

Last month, the now-19-year-old was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Metcalf, 17, during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.

Now, a group of high-profile attorneys have filed a pair of motions challenging both the verdict and the judge who oversaw the case.

Karmelo Anthony will spend at least 35 years in prison. Credit: Collin County

Defense team wants conviction thrown out

According to court filings obtained by TMZ, Anthony's lawyers argue the conviction should be overturned because they claim their client's constitutional rights were violated during the trial.

The defense said the proceedings were not fully accessible to the public and also claimed prosecutors prevented the teen from testifying in his own defense.

If the conviction is overturned, the attorneys are asking for any new trial to be overseen by a different judge.

They also want Judge John Roach removed from all remaining post-trial proceedings.

The motion argues that Roach showed bias after the trial by publicly defending both the process and the jury's verdict during media interviews.

When asked by WFAA whether he believed the jury reached the correct decision, Roach replied: "Yes, they did, because they were picked based upon the law, they listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict."

Roach also reflected on Anthony himself, saying: "He seems like a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did."

Anthony's appeal is now being led by a new legal team that includes Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe, veteran appellate attorney Russell Wilson, and civil rights attorney Brooke Cluse of Ben Crump Law.

The attorneys are reportedly handling the appeal pro bono, The New York Post reported.

Although Anthony filed a notice of appeal less than 24 hours after being convicted, that does not mean he will automatically receive a new trial. The appeals process could take several months.

Austin Metcalf was stabbed to death. Credit: GoFundMe

The five words that became central to the case

Anthony's conviction followed a highly publicized trial centered on the deadly confrontation beneath a team tent during a rain delay at Kuykendall Stadium.

Prosecutors and multiple witnesses have said Anthony had entered Memorial High School's tent and refused repeated requests to leave.

Witnesses testified he responded by saying: "F**k y'all. I'm not going to leave. Y'all are a bunch of p***ies. Y'all not going to do anything."

Metcalf repeatedly told Anthony to leave before the confrontation escalated.

Several witnesses testified that Anthony then warned him: "Touch me and find out."

After Metcalf pushed him, he pulled out a folding knife and stabbed the 17-year-old once in the chest.

A medical examiner later testified that the blade pierced Metcalf's chest bone before puncturing the right side of his heart.

The late teen died in the arms of his twin brother, Hunter, while police body camera footage shown during the trial captured desperate efforts to save him.

Anthony maintained throughout the case that he acted in self-defense.

Featured image credit: Frisco Police Department