Courthouse Rally Follows Judge’s Removal
New Black Panther Party national chairwoman Krystal Muhammad spoke outside the Collin County Courthouse after visiting Judge Sid Harle removed District Judge John Roach Jr. from Karmelo Anthony’s post-trial proceedings. Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison. Muhammad led chants of “Black Power” and said, “It’s about goddamn time,” before calling for Anthony to be released. The ruling, however, did not erase the conviction or the sentence. It only moved Anthony’s pending motion for a new trial to a different judge.
Video From Outside The Courthouse
Why Judge Roach Was Taken Off The Case
Roach presided over Anthony’s murder trial and later told a reporter that the jury “got it right.” Anthony’s attorneys argued that the comment created the appearance that Roach could not fairly consider their motion for a new trial. Harle agreed to remove Roach from the post-trial process. That is a procedural win for the defense, not a declaration that the trial result was wrong. In plain terms, the case is still alive in court, but Anthony remains convicted and sentenced unless a judge grants further relief.
Muhammad’s Claims About The Trial
Muhammad accused Roach’s court of racist conduct, including claims that people were not allowed into a public hearing and that jurors were not given self-defense instructions. She also argued that the jury should have had a manslaughter option. Those claims are now part of the public fight around the case, where legal arguments, activist pressure, and courthouse politics are all being pulled into the same frame. The New Black Panther Party’s own biography says Muhammad joined the group in 2002, led its Houston chapter, and has served as national chairwoman since 2013. The group is not officially connected to the original Black Panther Party.
Prior Reports And The Body-Camera Statement
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that police body-camera footage captured Anthony speaking to officers after the stabbing. According to that report, Anthony told police, “I’m not alleged. I did it.” The outlet also reported that New Black Panther Party members gathered outside the courthouse after Anthony’s conviction and tried to cast the murder case as a racial cause. One activist was quoted saying, “We got to tell our kids the truth that this is a racist-ass country!” and “This is a war!” The death of Metcalf remains at the center of the case, and that fact should not be lost in the noise outside the courthouse.
New Evidence Raised At The Hearing
During Thursday’s new-trial hearing, Collin County prosecutor Bill Wirskye told the court that Anthony’s former girlfriend reported him for allegedly stalking her on the morning Metcalf was killed. Prosecutors also described text messages in which Anthony allegedly wrote that he was “on the verge” and fantasized about stabbing someone and licking blood from the blade. The source report says that about one hour after the former girlfriend reportedly contacted school officials, Anthony stabbed Metcalf at the track meet. Prosecutors said this evidence was not presented to the original jury because of an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys limiting damaging character evidence about both Anthony and Metcalf.
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