Karmelo Anthony’s defense team won the recusal it requested in a Collin County court on Wednesday, meaning an outside judge will hear his case as he appeals his murder conviction in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf.
His attorneys asked for a new judge to oversee the 19-year-old’s appeal, which began around 9 a.m. Thursday. Anthony’s legal team argued its motion to recuse State District Judge John Roach Jr. from overseeing the appeals process. Judge Sid Harle, of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region in San Antonio, heard Wednesday’s motion.
The next hearing, taking place on Thursday, is when Anthony’s attorneys are expected to present arguments in support of their motion for a new trial. CBS News Texas learned early Wednesday afternoon that retired judge Michael B. Chitty of Kaufman County will preside over Thursday’s hearing.
In June, a group of well-known civil rights and criminal defense attorneys announced they would represent Anthony pro bono in his appeals. Dallas appellate attorney David Coale, who has handled appeals for decades, told CBS News Texas after the trial that Anthony’s team could have several strong arguments over whether the trial was handled correctly…