Karmelo Anthony appeal: What's next after motion for new trial was denied

COLLIN COUNTY, Texas - After his motion for a new trial was denied last weekend, Karmelo Anthony may have to wait until 2027 for an appeal hearing as his case goes through a Dallas appeals court.

Karmelo Anthony new trial motion denied

What we know:

On Aug. 22, Judge Michael Chitty denied Karmelo Anthony's request for a new trial.

Anthony’s new attorneys argued that his rights were violated through undocumented conferences held by former Collin County Judge John Roach, who was recused from the appeal hearing, and pretrial hearings Anthony did not attend.

They also argued Anthony was denied his Sixth Amendment right to a public trial because of decisions limiting courtroom access during his trial.

A central issue at Friday’s hearing was a "gentleman’s agreement" between prosecutors and Anthony’s original defense attorneys to keep certain character evidence involving both Anthony and Metcalf out of the trial.

During closing arguments, prosecutors argued the courtroom remained accessible to the public and media, while the defense said the decision to stop using an overflow room during the trial improperly limited public access.

Karmelo Anthony appeals process continues

What's next:

Though Anthony's motion for a new trial was denied, his appeals process will continue. The motion for a new trial is almost an automatic action by defense attorneys.

Now, the appeals process will begin, with the case heading to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.

Gary Udashen, an appellate attorney not associated with the case, says the appeal could come together quickly, but due to the length of the process, an appeals hearing may not happen until 2027.

Anthony's legal team said they will pursue every available legal avenue for their client.

What they're saying:

"Everything that happened in the motion for new trial will be part of the appeal. There'll be a transcript of the hearing on the motion of new trial that'll be included with the transcripts of the trial itself, and that will all go to the Court of Appeals," Udashen tells FOX 4's Steven Dial. 

"I'm sure the defense lawyers on appeal will be raising the same arguments to the court of appeals that they raised in the motion for new trial. And obviously, those arguments are going to be a key issue on this appeal."

Frisco track meet stabbing

The backstory:

Anthony was convicted of murder in the April 2, 2025, stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a regional high school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.

Investigators said Anthony, then a Centennial High School student, was sitting under the Memorial High School team tent when Metcalf, a Memorial student, told him to leave. Authorities said they found no evidence the two teens knew each other before the confrontation.

Stadium surveillance video released after the trial shows Metcalf and his friends walking toward the tent. Later footage shows Anthony running from the tent and out of the stadium after the stabbing.

Witnesses identified Anthony to a school resource officer shortly afterward, according to his arrest report. Police body camera video shows Anthony telling an officer that Metcalf "put his hands on me" and that he had acted to protect himself.

In another recording, Anthony told an officer, "I did it," after police referred to him as the alleged suspect.

A 911 caller said a friend had been stabbed under the tent and asked for an ambulance. Images of the knife used in the stabbing and additional surveillance video were also released following the trial.

Anthony has maintained that he acted in self-defense.

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