A new judge will consider Anthony’s request to overturn his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence.
McKINNEY, TX — The judge who presided over Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial was removed from further post-trial proceedings Wednesday as the 19-year-old seeks a new trial following his conviction in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet.
Visiting Judge Sid Harle granted the defense request to recuse state District Judge John Roach, who oversaw Anthony’s June trial in Collin County. Harle said he believed Roach could be fair but concluded that the appearance of impartiality also mattered when viewed by an outside observer. Another judge is expected to take over a hearing Thursday on Anthony’s motion for a new trial.
Anthony was convicted of murder June 9 and sentenced to 35 years in prison after jurors rejected his claim that he acted in self-defense during an April 2, 2025, confrontation with Metcalf at a track meet in Frisco. The case drew national attention and intense discussion online. Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white, although attorneys on both sides told jurors that race was not a factor in the confrontation.
Anthony’s new legal team sought Roach’s removal in part because of comments the judge made publicly after the trial. During a television interview, Roach was asked whether the jury had reached the right decision. He answered, “Yeah, they did,” while also explaining that he trusted jurors who had been selected under the law. Anthony’s attorneys argued that those remarks created questions about whether Roach could impartially decide a motion challenging the verdict he had just overseen.
The defense has raised several separate arguments in seeking a new trial. Lawyers have challenged restrictions Roach placed on courtroom access and media coverage, including his decision not to allow cameras during the trial. They also contend that the jury received improper or incomplete instructions related to Anthony’s self-defense claim. Those allegations have not yet resulted in the conviction being overturned.
Anthony’s attorneys also have argued that events surrounding his decision not to testify deprived him of a fair trial. In their motion, they said prosecutors and the original defense team had an informal understanding limiting the use of character and other conduct evidence involving Anthony and Metcalf. The defense alleges that developments during the trial threatened to open the door to material covered by that agreement and affected Anthony’s decision about whether to take the witness stand.
Prosecutors have disputed the defense’s account of the trial. Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye previously said Anthony’s new lawyers had made inaccurate characterizations of the proceedings and maintained that prosecutors acted ethically and complied with the judge’s rulings and agreements between the parties. Prosecutors have continued to defend the jury’s unanimous verdict and the fairness of the trial.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the confrontation began in the stadium bleachers during a rainy track meet involving several schools. Witnesses testified that Anthony was sitting beneath a Memorial High School team tent and was repeatedly asked to leave. The exchange escalated between Anthony and Metcalf. Witnesses said Metcalf pushed Anthony and that Anthony then used a knife to stab him. Prosecutors argued that Anthony had provoked the confrontation, while the defense maintained that the physical contact gave Anthony reason to believe he needed to defend himself.
Anthony did not testify at his trial. Jurors heard testimony from students, school officials and law enforcement officers and reviewed video and other evidence before deliberating for less than three hours. They found Anthony guilty of murder and later sentenced him to 35 years in prison. The sentence and conviction remain in effect while his lawyers pursue post-trial challenges and an appeal.
Wednesday’s ruling does not grant Anthony a new trial or erase the jury’s verdict. It changes who will decide the pending post-trial request. A different judge is expected to preside over Thursday’s hearing, where Anthony’s lawyers will seek to persuade the court that the alleged errors were serious enough to require another trial.
Author note: Last updated August 19, 2026.