Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis has responded to allegations made by Mike Howard, the lead defense attorney for Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Howard's affidavit, part of Anthony's appeal, claims that prosecutors violated a "gentlemen's agreement" regarding character evidence and that a crucial closed-door hearing was conducted too quickly, limiting the defense's preparation time.
Willis countered these assertions, stating that court transcripts, obtained by CBS News Texas, reveal inconsistencies with Howard's claims. He noted that many of the allegations do not align with the actual proceedings in court.
During a private discussion about Anthony's potential testimony, Howard admitted that the agreement was respected, while Judge John Roach Jr. indicated that he would not uphold informal agreements in a criminal matter.
Howard's affidavit also suggests he expected Anthony to testify but felt the judge restricted their preparation time. However, the transcript shows that the judge thoroughly explained Anthony's rights and permitted more than 30 minutes for the defense to deliberate, during which Anthony consulted with his parents before opting not to testify.
Willis expressed his surprise and disappointment regarding Howard's claims, asserting that the prosecution acted fairly and professionally throughout the case. Howard has not responded to requests for comment and will not take part in the upcoming appeal. Willis believes Anthony's appeal is likely to be denied, stating, "I feel good… I know what happened, and I know that our lawyers conducted themselves in good faith."
