Legal fund opened for Karmelo Anthony’s appellate case  

A new legal defense fund has been launched to support Karmelo Anthony as his appellate team advances its challenge to his murder conviction, according to a recent statement from Ben Crump.

Appeal Pushes Forward After New‑Trial Denial

Anthony’s attorneys said they will continue fighting after a judge denied their request for a new trial. They argued that jurors never heard critical evidence about both Anthony and Austin Metcalf, the 17‑year‑old he fatally stabbed during a 2025 Frisco ISD track meet. They say a private “gentleman’s agreement” between prosecutors and Anthony’s original trial lawyers kept background information about both teens out of the courtroom.

The team also plan to challenge the exclusion of three Black women from the jury, calling it a major appellate issue. The appeals process could extend into 2027 as the case moves through the Dallas‑based court of appeals.

New Karmelo Anthony Appellate Team Takes Over Case

Anthony’s appellate team includes several high‑profile criminal‑defense and civil‑rights attorneys working pro bono. Among them is

• Russell Wilson
• Michael Ware of the Innocence Project of Texas
• NAACP Texas President Gary Bledsoe
• attorneys Brooke Cluse, Sean Daredia and Justin A. Moore

They said their mission is to conduct an independent review of the trial record and determine whether legal errors occurred. The team emphasized that the appellate process exists to ensure every issue supported by the record is fully presented.

Karmelo Anthony Legal Fund Launched to Support Appeal

According to the fundraiser on GiveSendGo, the new legal fund will help cover costs associated with Anthony’s appellate case including:

• briefs and filings
• transcripts
• investigators
• experts
• and other necessary litigation costs

The fund aims to support legal fees as the new team prepares for what they describe as one of the most consequential appeals in recent Texas criminal‑court history. Anthony’s attorneys say they remain confident the appellate process will allow them to present evidence they believe should have been considered at trial.

To learn more, visit the fundraiser.