Lawyers for Karmelo Anthony reached what court filings describe as a “gentleman’s agreement” with Texas prosecutors aimed at keeping potentially damaging evidence out of his murder trial, as the teenager continues his effort to overturn his conviction in the killing of Austin Metcalf.
The arrangement was intended to keep the trial focused narrowly on “what happened under the tent,” a reference to the April 2, 2025, stabbing at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, according to court documents reviewed by the Daily Mail.
Under the agreement, both the defense and prosecution were barred from raising certain details about Metcalf’s and Anthony’s character, as well as aspects of their family histories, the filings state.
“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,” court documents filed last month by Anthony’s current attorneys said.
Mike Howard, who represented Anthony during the murder trial, agreed not to present evidence concerning “the Metcalf twins’ character, reputation or extraneous offenses/acts related to violence and bullying as well as racism,” according to the documents.
In return, prosecutors agreed not to reference Anthony’s school disciplinary record or introduce his cellphone records as evidence, the filings said.
The agreement also placed limits on the character witnesses Anthony’s defense team could call during the trial, according to the outlet.
Jeff Metcalf, Austin Metcalf’s father, declined to comment when contacted by the Mail, citing “ongoing court proceedings.”
“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.
