'American
Sniper' murder trial to open in Texas
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[February 11, 2015]
By Jon Herskovitz
STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Reuters) - Lawyers
for an Iraqi war veteran will argue at the start of his trial on
Wednesday that he was insane when he fatally shot former Navy SEAL Chris
Kyle, whose best-selling autobiography was turned into the hit movie
"American Sniper."
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Eddie Ray Routh, 27, is charged with murdering Kyle and his friend
Chad Littlefield in 2013 at a shooting range about 70 miles (110 km)
southwest of Fort Worth. A jury of 10 women and two men will hear
the case.
After opening arguments, Kyle's widow Taya is expected to be one of
the first witnesses to take the stand. Legal experts have said it is
a tough task to obtain a verdict of innocence by reason of insanity
in Texas.
If prosecutors win a conviction, they said they will seek a life
sentence, while the defense will argue that he was innocent due to
severe post traumatic stress disorder caused by Routh's overseas
tours of duty with the U.S. Marines.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/11/images/ads/current/LINCOLN_theater_011411.png) Routh's relatives have said he was hospitalized for treatment of
mental illness in the months leading up to the Feb. 2, 2013
shooting. He was taken to the range by Kyle, who had been helping
fellow veterans heal the mental scars coming from combat. The case will be heard at a court in rural Erath County.
Routh's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have the trial delayed,
saying that having the movie in theaters nationwide and basking in
the award season's glare makes it difficult for Routh to get a fair
hearing.
Kyle, credited with the most kills of any U.S. sniper, has been
lionized in his home state of Texas, where he is buried at the Texas
State Cemetery alongside some of the state's acclaimed figures. He
is seen by many as a symbol of dedication to country and fellow
servicemen.
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"American Sniper," directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley
Cooper, has grossed more than $282 million since opening in
mid-January and has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including
best picture.
Routh is accused of stealing Kyle's truck after the killings and
driving it to the home of Routh's sister, who said he confessed to
the crimes. Routh was arrested that day and has been jailed in Erath
County on $3 million bond.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
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