Texas teen convicted of track meet killing petitions for retrial and new judge

Karmelo Anthony, a 19-year-old from Texas, was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high-school track meet and received a 35-year prison term after a Collin County jury dismissed his self-defense argument. His legal team contends that District Judge John Roach applied overly rigid courtroom procedures and failed to give the jury full instructions, justifying a new trial and a different judge. The confrontation stemmed from Anthony refusing to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf’s team on a rainy day, leading to a heated exchange and ultimately a stabbing in the chest.

Witnesses said Anthony threatened, “Touch me and see what happens,” before pulling a knife after Metcalf pushed him. The case attracted widespread social-media discussion that highlighted racial dynamics, though both sides told jurors the motive was unrelated to race. A hearing on the retrial and judge-change request is scheduled to start Wednesday in suburban Dallas.