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Awaiting decisionAnthony v. State (Frisco track-meet stabbing appeal)
Will Karmelo Anthony's murder conviction survive his appeal?
Where the case stands
Motion for new trial denied in August 2026 by a newly appointed Collin County judge after a hearing that included new evidence about threats and the teens' past conduct. The defense announced on Sept. 2, 2026 that the appeal is going forward in the Fifth Court of Appeals, with the court record expected to be ready by October 2026.
Background
Karmelo Anthony, a Frisco high-school student, was convicted of murdering fellow student Austin Metcalf, 17, who was stabbed in the chest during a dispute over seating at an April 2, 2025 regional track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. The case drew enormous, polarized national attention for over a year.
Charges
- Murder — convicted in June 2026 after a seven-day jury trial; roughly three hours of deliberation
- Sentenced to 35 years in prison (jury could have given 5-99 years)
The arguments
Prosecution/State: Anthony knowingly and willingly caused Metcalf's death; the jury rejected his self-defense claim on the top count.
Defense: Anthony acted in self-defense; the trial was unfair — including an alleged off-the-record agreement between his original defense team and prosecutors that affected his ability to testify, and limited public access to the proceedings.
The record
- Police bodycam footage. Released publicly after trial; shows the immediate aftermath and Anthony's statements at the scene.
- Stadium surveillance video. Surveillance footage from the track meet, released after the trial and covered by Dallas-area outlets.
- New-trial-hearing evidence. Testimony about threats in the case and both teens' past conduct, heard before the motion was denied.
The line-setting read at the time this market opened
Texas intermediate appellate courts affirm the large majority of murder convictions; the defense's strongest claims are process-based (fair-trial and counsel issues), which rarely produce outright reversal. Opening guilty-side (affirm) read: ~0.85.
Awaiting decision — Appellate briefing and the Fifth Court of Appeals' decision — no argument or decision date set. The ruling is posted here, and on the board, the moment it's confirmed by two or more independent news organizations.
Sources
- FOX 4 — appeal moving forward (Sept 2, 2026)
- Dallas Observer — guilty verdict
- FOX LA — new trial denied
- FOX 35 — guilty, sentenced to 35 years
Public record
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