Collin County District Judge John Roach defended his decision to bar cameras and livestreaming from Karmelo Anthony’s high-profile murder trial, calling it “an easy decision” made to protect the fairness of the proceedings, but raised many eyebrows when he called the killer a “nice kid.”
In a post-verdict interview with WFAA, Roach described the now-convicted 19-year-old Anthony as “a nice young man who committed a crime and he understands today more than any day before the consequences of committing a crime like he did.”
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison last week for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco high school track meet in April 2025.
The stabbing occurred at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, when Anthony, who was on school suspension and not supposed to be at the event, approached the tent area belonging to rival Memorial High School.
Witnesses said Metcalf told Anthony to leave, and a confrontation ensued.
Anthony then pulled out a knife he had brought and stabbed Metcalf in the chest, piercing his heart.
Metcalf died in the arms of his twin brother.
Anthony admitted to the stabbing but claimed self-defense. A jury rejected that claim.
Judge Roach explained his camera ban during the interview.
“Yes, it was an easy decision. I’ll tell you why. My primary goal in every case is to make sure the defendant and the prosecution get a fair trial. Period.”
The judge acknowledged that the decision angered some people but emphasized he was not there to make anyone happy. Roach said he had to balance the media’s right to know what was happening with the need to prevent outside commentary or public pressure from influencing the jury or proceedings.
“I know I made people mad, but I’m not here to make them happy either,” he stated. “As long as I follow the law, I sleep well at night.”
Roach pushed back against suggestions of any personal connection to the Metcalf family, saying he would not have recognized Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, before the trial.
He defended the jury’s verdict, noting that jurors were selected in accordance with the law, heard the facts presented in court, and rendered their decision.
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