Retired Judge Michael Chitty Rejected Claims That a Private Agreement and Courtroom Restrictions Deprived Anthony of a Fair Trial
Karmelo Anthony’s bid for a new trial has been denied, leaving his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence in place as his attorneys prepare to continue their appeal.
Retired Kaufman County District Judge Michael Chitty issued the ruling Saturday following a two-day hearing examining Anthony’s trial, courtroom restrictions and an informal agreement between prosecutors and his former defense attorneys.
“Upon reviewing the motion, the record, the evidence and argument … the Court has determined the motion should be denied,” Chitty wrote in the brief order, according to the Associated Press.
Chitty took over the post-trial proceedings after Senior Judge Sid Harle of Bexar County removed Judge John Roach Jr. from the case. Harle ruled that Roach’s public comments following the trial could cause a reasonable observer to question his impartiality.
Defense Says Private Agreement Undermined Anthony’s Case
Anthony’s new legal team argued that an off-the-record “gentleman’s agreement” between prosecutors and his trial attorneys contributed to his decision not to testify.
The agreement was intended to keep potentially damaging background information about both Anthony and Austin Metcalf away from jurors and focus the trial on what happened beneath a team tent during the April 2025 track meet.
Anthony’s attorneys argued that a dispute over the agreement left the defense uncertain about what prosecutors could raise if Anthony testified. They said the conflict effectively coerced him into remaining silent and prevented him from fully presenting his self-defense claim.
The defense also challenged restrictions imposed during the trial, arguing that limited courtroom access and private pretrial proceedings violated Anthony’s constitutional right to a public trial.
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye disputed the claim that the agreement prevented Anthony from testifying. He said the restrictions were necessary because of threats, intense national attention and misinformation surrounding the case, CBS News Texas reported.
Hearing Revealed Evidence Jurors Never Saw
The hearing exposed extensive background information involving both teenagers that was withheld from the jury under the agreement.
Records presented in court included allegations that Metcalf participated in racist and antisemitic graffiti, used racial slurs and had been accused of bullying and violence.
Prosecutors also presented text messages and other records that they said showed Anthony had a history involving threats, weapons and fighting. None of that evidence was introduced during the murder trial.
Related: Austin Metcalf’s Troubling Past Reveals He Once Spray-Painted “Kill All Blacks,” Bullied a Black Student and Assaulted Girls
Wirskye testified that the agreement was intended to avoid inflaming an already racially charged case and keep the proceedings centered on the fatal confrontation. Anthony is Black, and Metcalf was white.
Conviction Stands as Appeal Continues
A Collin County jury convicted Anthony in June of murdering 17-year-old Metcalf during a Frisco high school track meet. Jurors deliberated for nearly three hours before rejecting Anthony’s claim that he acted in self-defense.
The same jury sentenced Anthony, now 19, to 35 years in prison.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said prosecutors expected the motion to be denied and remain confident in the verdict and judicial process.
Defense attorney Russell Wilson said Anthony’s legal team believes the issues raised in the motion deserve appellate review. The attorneys plan to continue the case before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, according to KERA.
“Our commitment to our client has not changed,” Wilson said. “We will continue to advocate vigorously on his behalf through every lawful avenue available.”
