Karmelo Anthony Brings In Six-Attorney Appeal Team After 35-Year Murder Sentence

DALLAS — Karmelo Anthony has assembled a new legal team as he seeks to overturn the murder conviction that sent him to prison for 35 years in the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet. Those deciding Anthony's fate rejected Anthony's self-defense argument and returned a guilty verdict on June 9.

As reported by FOX 4, six attorneys have agreed to handle the appeal without charge, with North Texas lawyer Russell Wilson II leading the effort alongside Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe and several other appellate and criminal-defense attorneys. The group says it will examine the trial record and pursue every available avenue toward a path to reversal.

Collin County records show Anthony's notice of appeal was filed one day after the conviction, preserving his right to challenge both the verdict and sentence before a higher tribunal. The filing marked the opening step in a process that could stretch for months while appellate judges review the record.

Newly submitted documents state that Anthony requested court-appointed representation, describing himself as unable to pay for continued legal services. That claim drew additional interest because fundraising campaigns connected to his defense previously collected more than $600,000 before being shut down following the verdict.

Jury selection is expected to remain a major battleground. Defense attorneys previously objected after Black prospective jurors were removed from the panel, preserving the issue for appellate review and setting up a potential challenge centered on whether race improperly influenced the selection process.

Appellate lawyers face tight deadlines as they obtain transcripts, review testimony, evaluate rulings from trial, and determine which arguments carry the strongest chance of success. Legal analysts have noted that appeals often focus on potential errors made during trial rather than revisiting every factual dispute presented during testimony.

Austin Metcalf's family has maintained that the verdict reflected the evidence presented in Frisco, while Anthony's supporters continue arguing that significant legal questions remain unresolved. Decisions from the appellate panel will determine whether the conviction stands, receives modification, or returns for another review by judges in Dallas.