Prosecutor Reveals Evidence Jury Never Saw in Karmelo Anthony Murder Case

COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — New details have emerged in the appeal of Karmelo Anthony, including evidence prosecutors say was never presented to the jury during his murder trial last year.

At an appeal hearing, Collin County Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye described messages and other information concerning Anthony’s behavior shortly before the April 2025 death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.

Anthony was convicted of murder in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His legal team is now seeking a new trial, arguing that problems during the original proceedings affected the outcome.

Evidence Was Kept Out of Original Trial

According to prosecutors, the jury never heard about allegations involving Anthony’s former girlfriend.

Wirskye told the court that the girl had reportedly told a school administrator that Anthony was stalking her following their breakup.

Prosecutors also said Anthony had expressed an interest in fights, guns and knives and had sent his former girlfriend a photograph of a knife shortly before the fatal confrontation.

The prosecutor said Anthony also sent messages suggesting that he was experiencing an emotional crisis at the time.

None of that evidence was presented to the jury during the original murder trial.

Prosecutors and Defense Made an Agreement

Wirskye explained that prosecutors and Anthony’s defense attorneys reached what he described as a “gentleman’s agreement” before the trial.

Under the agreement, prosecutors would not introduce evidence about Anthony’s personal history, while the defense would not present information about Metcalf’s juvenile record.

The decision was intended to keep the trial focused on what happened during the confrontation at the track meet rather than allowing the proceedings to become centered on the personal histories of the two teenagers.

The prosecutor said the agreement was also intended to prevent an already highly sensitive case from becoming even more racially charged.

What Happened at the Track Meet

Anthony, who was 18 at the time, attended a high school track-and-field event in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.

According to testimony presented during the original trial, Anthony was sitting beneath a tent reserved for a team when Metcalf and others asked him to leave.

The interaction escalated into a confrontation.

Prosecutors argued that Anthony was the aggressor and that he pulled out a knife during the dispute, fatally injuring Metcalf.

Anthony was subsequently arrested and charged with murder.

Anthony Is Appealing His Conviction

Anthony’s attorneys argue that the original trial contained serious legal problems, including disputes over jury instructions and courtroom procedures.

His legal team has also challenged the conduct of the judge who presided over the trial.

That judge, John Roach, was recently removed from overseeing the appeal after Anthony’s attorneys argued that comments he made publicly after the conviction raised questions about his impartiality.

Retired Judge Michael Chitty has now been assigned to consider Anthony’s request for a new trial.

Why the New Evidence Matters

The newly revealed evidence does not automatically mean Anthony will receive a new trial.

The appeal court must determine whether the legal issues raised by his attorneys were significant enough to justify another proceeding.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, maintain that the original trial properly focused on the events surrounding Metcalf’s death and that the excluded background information was intentionally left out as part of the agreement.

Case Continues to Draw National Attention

The case has attracted intense national attention, in part because Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white, with questions about race becoming part of the wider public debate surrounding the case.

Both families have faced intense public scrutiny since the killing.

Anthony remains convicted of murder and is serving his 35-year sentence while the appeal process moves forward.

The latest hearing has now introduced the public to evidence that jurors never heard, potentially adding another significant issue for the court to consider as it decides whether Anthony’s conviction should stand or whether he should receive a new trial.