Convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony submitted his appeal notice less than a day after being convicted, now backed by a team of six lawyers who are representing him without charge.
According to TMZ, a group known as the Stand With Karmelo Coalition revealed Monday that these attorneys have taken on the case pro bono to independently examine the trial proceedings and explore all possible legal avenues for appeal.
The legal team is led by Russell Wilson II, a former Dallas County prosecutor; Michael L. Ware, director of the Innocence Project of Texas, serving as second chair; Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, in a third leadership role; along with Brooke Cluse from Ben Crump Law, Sean Daredia of Daredia Law Firm, and Justin A. Moore of Stafford Moore PLLC.
Brooke Cluse’s participation holds notable significance. She joined Ben Crump Law in 2023 as Chief of Staff and Executive Liaison to Crump, the prominent civil rights attorney known for representing families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, and Michael Brown.
Prior to that, she worked as a public defender in Harris County.
Anthony, 19, was found guilty on June 9 by a Collin County jury of first-degree murder in the April 2025 stabbing death of White 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during an altercation at a Frisco track meet.
He was sentenced to 35 years in prison shortly after the verdict. Throughout the trial, Anthony claimed self-defense, a position the jury ultimately dismissed.
It’s important to clarify what an appeal entails—it does not mean a retrial. Instead, an appellate court will assess the trial record for legal mistakes that could have influenced the outcome. The current conviction and sentence stand unless a higher court decides otherwise.
After sentencing, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis stated that “justice was served,” expressing gratitude to the jurors, prosecutors, witnesses, and Metcalf’s family.
This case has previously drawn national attention. During jury selection, every qualified black prospective juror was removed from the pool because they stated that they could not find Karmelo guilty—a fact that sparked widespread public discussion.
Additionally, a Texas court recently released a substantial amount of previously sealed evidence, including bodycam footage, surveillance video, 911 calls, and crime scene photos—some showing Anthony’s emotional interaction with police immediately after the incident.
The legal process is far from over. Anthony’s next steps will depend entirely on what his new legal team uncovers as they analyze the trial record.
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Original Article: Karmelo Anthony’s Appeal Just Got A Powerhouse Legal Team | BIN: Black Information Network