Karmelo Anthony’s lawyers cooked up a so-called “gentleman’s agreement” with Texas prosecutors in a bid to stop potentially damaging evidence from being released during his trial – as the teen desperately tries to get his conviction for murdering Austin Metcalf overturned.
The deal was created to ensure his trial was premised around “what happened under the tent,” referring to the April 2, 2025, stabbing at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, according to court documents seen by the Daily Mail.
The agreement, described as a “gentleman’s agreement” in court documents, blocked the defense and prosecution from mentioning details about Metcalf’s and Anthony’s character and family history.
“In reliance upon the agreement, the defense also did not go into substantial family violence Mr. Anthony had witnessed and been a victim of in his home,” the court documents, which were filed last month by lawyers now representing Anthony, stated.
Mike Howard, Anthony’s lawyer at the time of his murder trial, agreed not to “go into evidence related to the Metcalf twins’ character, reputation or extraneous offenses/acts related to violence and bullying as well as racism,” the documents claimed.
Prosecutors wouldn’t mention Anthony’s school disciplinary history and wouldn’t use his cellphone records under the terms of the agreement.
The deal also imposed restrictions on Anthony’s character witnesses at the trial, according to the outlet.
Jeff Metcalf, Austin Metcalf’s father, refused to comment “on ongoing court proceedings,” when approached by the Mail.
“I and the entire prosecution team conducted this trial ethically and in full compliance with the Court’s rulings and any agreements with defense counsel,” Bill Wirskye, the First Assistant at Collin County District Attorney’s Office, told KXAS-TV last month after news of the “gentleman’s agreement” emerged.
The agreement emerged as Anthony’s team of civil rights attorneys – including veteran appellate attorney Russell Wilson, civil rights lawyer Brooke Cluse from Ben Crump Law – try to secure a fresh trial.
Anthony’s lawyers are gearing up for a recusal hearing which will take place on Wednesday in McKinney, Texas.
They are trying to discharge Judge John Roach – who oversaw 19-year-old Anthony’s murder trial – and are claiming his public comments infringed judicial impartiality.
Roach, an elected judge, stood by his decision not to allow cameras into the courtroom as he spoke about the case two days after Anthony was sentenced.
“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,” he emphatically told WFAA on June 11.
“I have seen from other cases around the country where cameras in the courtroom changed the way that the judge acted, the lawyers act, [and] some of the witnesses acted.
“We were not going to have that here.”
Roach also said the jury came to the correct conclusion because “they were picked based upon the law.”
“They listened to the facts, it happened in this courtroom, and they got a verdict,” the judge, who is retiring on Dec. 31, added.
If Roach is recused, then Anthony’s defense team would file a motion for a new trial, expected to be the following day.
This will be ruled on by August 24. Under Texas law, a court has 75 days from the date of sentencing to rule on a new trial motion. The motion is denied if a judge doesn’t act.
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