Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis has publicly 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 rushed, impacting the defense's preparation.
Willis disputes many of Howard's claims, citing court transcripts that he says contradict the defense attorney's assertions. He noted, "It's clear that many of these claims don't match what actually happened in court." During a private meeting about Anthony's potential testimony, Howard reportedly acknowledged that the agreement was upheld, while Judge John Roach Jr. stated he would not enforce informal agreements in criminal cases.
Howard suggested he was confident in Anthony's willingness to testify but claimed limited preparation time due to the judge's restrictions. However, transcripts indicate that the judge provided Anthony with a thorough explanation of his rights and allowed ample time for deliberation before he ultimately chose not to testify.
Willis expressed his surprise and disappointment regarding Howard's statements, affirming that the prosecution conducted itself fairly. Howard has not commented on the matter and will not be involved in the upcoming appeal. Willis anticipates that the appeal will likely be denied, stating, "I feel good… I know what happened, and I know that our lawyers conducted themselves in good faith."
The first hearing related to the appeal may take place next month.
