There were no guns found in Routh's home; they only found ammunition. He was not carrying a weapon when Kyle picked him up at his home. Kyle and Littlefield both had loaded handguns in waistband holders, with the safeties on, when their bodies were found.
A forensic scientist for Texas Department of Public Safety was given evidence from the case. There was a stain on the toe of the right boot that Routh was wearing. The blood stain on the boot was consistent with Chad Littlefield. The forensic scientist received clothing items from Routh, but the clothing did not contain evidence. Clothes from Kyle and Littlefield were also analyzed. The stains on Kyle's clothing were consistent with Kyle and the same with Littlefield. Stains were found and analyzed on some of the fire arms present at the scene. A stain was found on one of the handguns, and the DNA stain was consistent with Kyle. Another handgun had a DNA stain consistent with Littlefield.
FEBRUARY 20, 2015
Prosecution to call rebuttal expert witnesses.Jason Upshaw, from the Erath County jail, on the witness stand discussing phone call between Routh and New Yorker reporter, four months after the murders.
Routh saying he needs to get to New York. "I need to get out of this cell so I can talk to a staff writer, so I can tell my story."
“I’m trying to get out of here so I can do some writing…There’s a lot of writing I need to do, about 10 yrs worth.”
Routh asks if he can come to NY to visit him.
Routh tells reporter jail isn't too bad, food is OK, but he still wants to leave so he can meet the reporter and tell his story.
Upshaw said Eddie had said he wanted to do some writing. Witness says Routh had TV in jail.
Next witness is Dr. Randall Price.
Price has been a forensic psychologist for 30 years and has taught at Richland College in Dallas for 40 years.
Prosector - are you familiar with state’s definition of insanity. Price - yes. It requires investigation.
Has to look at entire history to evaluate defendant's mental condition up to murders. Then in person.
He was brought on the case in March 2013. Has had access to hundreds of pages of records on Routh.
Those included the VA & Green Oaks hosp. files.
Has seen all police files, autopsy, TX Rangers reports, jail reports, crime scene photos.
Reviewed school files, military records too.
Price says that Texas has no temporary insanity considerations.
Talked to Routh personally in December 2014.
Price interviewed Routh for 4 hours. Said Routh had problem paying attention.
After 4 hours, Routh said he was finished. The interview ended.
Price returned January 16, 2015. Interviewed 5.5-6 hours. Price studies behavior during this time.
Like a physical exam but for the brain. Memory, attention span, emotional reactions.
Asked Routh his impression of murders. What was going on in his life and his version of events.
Price says that Routh is inconsistent which may result in many different diagnoses.
Price - this is a difficult case from a psychological prospective. Hard to narrow down what was wrong.
Routh told each doctor something different.
Price - Routh is NOT insane.
Price believes Routh’s problems stemmed from drug/alcohol abuse.
Price disagrees of the psychosis diagnosis from Dr Dunn.
He knew what he did was wrong and he did it anyways.
Routh doesn’t meet definition of insanity by Texas standards. Psychosis caused by drugs.
Voluntary intoxication cannot be a defense to a crime. Not insanity.
Even with symptoms of psychosis, they were drug induced.
Price doesn’t think Routh is Schizophrenic.
Price thinks the “Pig People” comes from Routh watching ‘Seinfeld.’ There was episode about it.
Pig Hybrid/people was the subject of an episode of the show.
Routh has TV in jail call. He watches Seinfeld.
Another show he likes is ‘Boss Hog.’ Shows pig trapping/slaughtering. Mentioned this show in calls.
In one episode of ‘Boss Hog’ someone is referred to as “Pigman”.
NOTE: The prosecutors and their expert witnesses accused Eddie of making up the story about pigs AFTER the murders to feign pyschosis, but this is refuted by the fact that in his sister's taped interrogation at the police station immediately after Eddie left her home on the day of the murders, she told police that her brother "was out of his mind, saying people were sucking his soul and that he could smell the pigs." Also, in a taped interrogation by police on the day of the murders, Routh rambles about the "wolf in the sky" and pigs.
Dr Price says being in jail has been good for him. It’s a structured environment.
In the 2 year since jail he’s had no drugs/alcohol and taken meds.
1. Personality Disorder
2. Adjustment Disorder
3. Drug induced psychosis
4. Marijuana abuse
5. Alcohol abuse.
These were issues at time time of the crime.
Personailty disorder.
Thinks someone is using them, harm, or destroy them.
Distrust people close to them. Hold grudges, think significant other is cheating, easily angered.
These things are what Routh had at time of killings.
Price thinks Routh faked symptoms of schizophrenia.
A personality disorder is not a mental disorder.
Drugs and alcohol enhances the paranoia.
Adjustment disorder.
Anxious, worried, depressed, no stable job, living conditions (he hated living with folks).
Adjustment disorder started at end of duty with Marines - not getting to do what he wanted to in service.
Marijuana abuse - dependent and heavy user.
Cannabis disorder is what Price is describing. Not safe for heavy use.
Marijuana made Eddie predisposed to psychotic side effects.
Potency higher in US now.
Routh was disappointed by lack of accomplishments in USMC - a lifelong dream of his.
Cannabis induced disorder - increases paranoia. High 4-4 hours. Pleasant and not pleasant is common.
Cannabis induced psychosis is very rare.
Psychosis induced by intoxication can last a lot longer Smells enhanced for days, months.
Price - don’t think he had schizophrenia or psychosis.
Had alcohol abuse issues for years prior to murder.
Routh denied hearing voices to tell him to commit crime.
Marijuana induced psychotic symptoms - bright lights, smells enhanced.
MOTIVE didn’t include mental issues or substance issues.
Curses a lot for shock value - makes people laugh and he keeps doing it.
Routh talks in metaphors. Routh said your “soul” is who you are, your life."
When Price met with Routh he was not in a psychotic symptoms but still talked that way.
Routh messed up the metaphors.
Price - “soul sucking” is someone taking advantage of him.
Once you learn his pattern of talking you understand ramblings with police before car chase.
When on phone with reporter, psychotic symptoms are gone from time of murder.
Talking about testing. He was normal on one test and intelligence was average. On earlier test he quit.
Routh has average OR lower then average intelligence. Scored average/below average on most test except 1.
One test indicated he was not trying. Another test he didn’t show psychotic symptoms. Another he faked by exaggerating his answers.
Face to face no exaggeration. But on paper he does. Never talked about pigs.
Routh checked all possible ailments on one test of what could be wrong with his body.
He had paranoid and narcissistic tendencies. Comes from people who think they’re special.
Routh thought he should be treated special. Said people were jealous of him because he was a tall/handsome marine.
One test inconsistent with answers but didn’t lie/exaggerate. Showed problems with. anxiety and depression.
Price - Eddie did NOT have PTSD.
He checked 100% of potential problems to try and get benefits from VA.
Said he smoked pot as teen but not in Marines because he would be discharged.
Routh denied drug/alcohol problems 6 months prior to murders.
Price - no proof he had combat experience. No trauma.
Mad Marines not using him how he wanted them to.
In Haiti he was mostly on ship. Said he left a few times to get his paycheck.
One time he thought he saw a body in the water.
He didn’t pick up bodies off beaches.
Routh wanted to fight the prisoners in Iraq, not guard them.
Routh went to trade school and tried to obtain VA benefits. Too expensive so he left.
Didn’t want drug treatment. Argued with. girlfriend about his drug use.
Routh’s uncle came over and drank and smoked marijuana.
Eddie was surprised Chris brought Chad along when he came to get him.
Routh didn’t know they were going to shooting range. Routh was agitated and suspicious.
Routh saw all the guns.
Stopped to eat Routh wasn’t hungry but Chris bought him food anyways.
Chris was speeding by 20 mph. Felt it was dangerous. They wouldn’t talk to him.
Routh shot Chad first then Chris both with. 9mm handgun. He said he thought “Jesus, what have I done."
Chad convulsing so he walked over and shot him in the head.
Said he didn’t plan it methodically but tactically he shot the one facing him (Chad) then Chris.
Price said autopsy said .45 and 9mm were used to Routh and Routh said they were wrong.
Routh was “immediately remorseful” when describing killings.
Routh never opened up about how many times he shot Chris and Chad.
He knew what he did was wrong.
Was gonna kill them in truck but didn’t want to get hurt in wreck.
Chose the time to kill them. Knew Chris had emptied his gun. Routh had just loaded and was bragging he was a sharp shooter with a pistol.
Price - Fleeing indicates you know what you did was wrong.
Knew he broke the law and police would come for him.
Got into truck and fled scene. Went to uncle's home and then to sister’s home.
Got mad about how they treated him so he went home to get dog.
Said he was going to Oklahoma because he was “in too deep” - knew he did wrong.
Admitted to police what he did was wrong.
Price - very clear he knew it was wrong by all accounts. Looked scared to Price in police car.
During standoff in truck, he takes off. In squad car, his behavior was not manic or psychotic.
During previous arrest, he got out of car and said, “I’m a Marine with PTSD."
In police car after murders, saying he was psychotic and schizophrenic was just to mislead cops.
Break for lunch the testimony resumes.
New doctor called for prosecution, Dr. Michael Arambula.
Eddie’s thoughts weren’t those of someone who was delusional or having psychotic episodes.
Eddie’s thoughts had no substance where someone who was psychotic did.
Dr. A - Delusions do not disappear with schizophrenia. The delusions do not change either.
Dr. A’s opinion is that, instead of schizophrenia, Eddie has a mood disorder.
Eddie did not display symptoms associated with Schizophrenia.
Eddie’s behavior was entirely different when Dr A evaluated him compared to the night of the murders.
Eddie would tell officers of his “PTSD" when he was arrested other times. Dr. A - this is to avoid jail.
Dr. A - to be sent to mental hospital instead.
When Routh said to officers at time of arrest that he was psychotic, it was to mislead them.
Eddie lied about many things to Dr A including fights with girlfriend, smoking pot with uncle.
Dr A’s opinion of the prescribed meds from the VA is that the doses were conservative and not effective.
In the interview with Dr A, Eddie slipped up and indicated he did know they were going to shoot guns.
Eddie said that he had walked down gun range, which meant he had his back to boys.
Dr A - this indicates he was NOT afraid/threatened.
If he were truly paranoid, he wouldn’t have done this.
Eddie says, feeling in slow-mo, he shot Chad. Didn’t want to shoot Chris but had to so he wouldn’t shoot him back.
Chad bugged him.
Eddie said he didn’t have any problems with Chris but had to shoot him because he knew he’d shoot back.
Cross Examination.
Def - does smoking pot make you immediately high?
Def - Did Eddie have any form of psychosis? Dr A - Eddie was so intoxicated that they could not tell.
Dr. A can say that Eddie has a mood disorder.
Pot enhances a mood disorder and can amplify it.
Defense questions whether Eddie could have driven the truck if high. Dr A said a tolerance had been set.
Def - did the labs show that the marijuana was laced? Dr A said he did not.
Dr A doesn’t think that based on the interviews and research that Eddie had Schizophrenia.
Dr A Eddie’s fear of “Pig People” is not consistent. His not liking Chad is indication of mood disorder.
Dr A - If Eddie was really afraid of Chad, he would have never had his back to him at gun range.
Day 8 of the trial (same testimony as above but from different source observing from trial)
State calls Dr. Randall Price, a forensic psychologist. He teaches legal and psychology classes. [He is not a medical doctor or a practicing psychologist] Legal definition of insanity in Texas.
Price reviewed Routh's school files, military files, jail records, autopsy reports, crime scene photos.
Price interviewed Routh on December 15, 2014, at Erath County jail. Did testing on Routh too. "Routh has a bit of an attention problem."
Interview lasted for almost 4 hours. Price went back to visit Routh on Januaary 16, 2015. Spent 5 1/2-6 hours with him that day.
Price says assessment is like physical exam but for the person's brain. Look at memory, attention, emotional reactions.
Price says of Routh's inconsistency: "I predict you're going to hear a lot of different diagnoses."
Price: This is certainly a complicated case from a psychological and psychiatric perspective to try to figure out what was going on with him.
Price says Routh doesn't meet defense of insanity in TX. He was experiencing mental disease caused by alcohol, drug use.
Price says: "He did know what he was doing was wrong, and he did it anyway."
Price says he doesn't believe Routh suffers from schizophrenia. Was in state of psychosis caused by drug use when he shot Kyle, Littlefield.
Price says he believes Routh was saying that he saw 'pig people' because he watches Seinfeld. Episode of Seinfeld about pig people.
Price says he suspects Routh is faking symptoms that could be attributed to schizophrenia.
Price says Routh has a personality disorder, which is different from mental disorders. He was also dependent on weed, alcohol.
Price: when someone with a paranoid personality disorder are intoxicated on marijuana, they can become more paranoid.
Price says cannabis - induced psychosis is rare.
Price says psychosis caused by marijuana use can last even after the high has ended.
Price says Routh often talks in odd metaphors, which are not attributed to a psychotic state of mind.
Price says Routh does not have PTSD. Is a narcissist who believes people envy him because he's a tall, handsome Marine.
Routh didn't want disability benefits; did want benefits for school. Price says Routh gave up, which was common for him.
Routh told Price that he was surprised that Kyle, Littlefield was taking him to a gun range. Was agitated about the number of guns in truck.
Routh also said he was offended that Kyle didn't shake his hand. "They just weren't treating him right," Price says.
Routh consistently says he didn't like that Littlefield wasn't shooting at the range. "I better shoot Chad before he shoots me."
"When I shot them, I thought, 'Jesus Christ, what have I done?'" Routh told Price.
"I didn't plan it methodically but in some kind of tactical scheme I shot the target facing me first, that was Chad," Routh says .
Routh went on to say that he shot the target facing away from him second, which was Kyle. Routh insists, though, that he shot with one gun.
Routh shot Littlefield in the back. Littlefield wasn't facing him. Ballistics show that Littlefield, Kyle shot with different guns. [The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.]
When Price told Routh this information, Routh said the investigators were wrong, they made a mistake.
Kyle shot with one gun, 6 times. Littlefield shot with another, seven times. Investigators thought Kyle was shot first. Routh says otherwise.
Routh told Price that he first thought of shooting Kyle and Littlefield on the way to gun range, but didn't want to get into a car crash.
Price said Routh waited for Kyle to empty his weapon before Routh shot him.
Price says this shows Routh knew he was wrong.
"It wasn't a very good plan for fleeing to go to your house," Price says of Routh's actions after the shootings.
Court back in session after lunch break.
Randall Price still on witness stand in.
Cross examination.
Price, under cross-exam, said he changed his opinion of Routh between 1st and 2nd meeting with him.
Said he might have a different conclusion with more information [Dec 2014 vs. Jan 2015]
Defense atty going over Routh's hospitalization history with Price. History of psychosis diagnoses.
Price says he first started studying cannabis-induced psychosis last year for another case.
Price says Routh is of average or slightly-below average intelligence.
Price says every time Routh was hospitalized, medical records show he had used marijuana and/or alcohol. Says psychosis caused by weed use.
Defense attorney questioning how common drug-induced psychosis is from marijuana. Price says it's more common with meth, PCP.
Second expert rebuttal witness called by prosecution.
Dr. Michael Arambula now on witness stand.
His testimony is identical to that of prosecution expert, Dr. Randall Price, a forensic psychologist, who teaches legal and psychology classes.
Arambula is also a forensic psychiatrist and a former pharmacist. [Like Price, he is not a medical doctor or a practicing psychologist.]
Arambula says Routh was not insane at the time of the offense.
Arambula says Routh not insane because he was intoxicated at the time. [There was no blood test given to Routh by police or later to determine drugs or alcohol in his system on days of murders].
Dr. Arambula says he does not believe Routh has a serious mental disease or defect. Does not think Routh has schizophrenia.
Dr. Arambula reviewed Routh's records. He also interviewed Routh for about 3 1/2 hours.
Dr. Arambula says Routh was upset when they first met because Arambula didn't shake Routh's hand.
Arambula says Routh likely has a mood disorder, not schizophrenia.
Arambula says Routh was saying he had PTSD, paranoia to go to mental hospitals instead of jail during times he was arrested.
"He was showing his hand already. In other words, he was trying to get out of what he had done," Arambula says of Routh during arrest.
Arambula says Routh let slip he knew they were going to a shooting range. Didn't know that Littlefield was going.
Arambula says Routh turned his back to an armed Kyle, a move inconsistent with paranoia.
Routh told Arambula that Chad Littlefield bothered him. He had no problems with Kyle. But Routh didn't want Kyle to shoot back.
FEBRUARY 23, 2015
The judge cancelled the trial on Monday, February 23, 2015, perhaps so Taya could rest from her trip back from attending the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, and the after parties, the night before.
FEBRUARY 24, 2015
Expert on gunshot wounds, called by prosecution, says Routh was standing between Kyle and Littlefield when he shot them, so that he "could engage both targets." Prosecution expert says Routh did not shoot the two victims from the same angle. Prosecution expert says that when they were shot, they fell immediately.
Routh told a prosecution expert that he believed they were taking him to the gun range to kill him. He came to this conclusion during the two-hour drive in the truck to the gun range. Routh said he was surprised that Kyle brought Littlefield along. Routh also said he was offended that Kyle didn't shake his hand. Routh saw all the guns in the truck. Routh was agitated and suspicious. The two of them were texting and not speaking to Routh, plus Kyle texted Routh's girlfiend, Weed. He was nervous when the men didn't talk to him. Routh told the prosecution expert that he first thought of shooting Kyle and Littlefield on the way to gun range, but didn't want to get into a car crash.
Routh consistently said he didn't like that Littlefield wasn't shooting at the range. "I better shoot Chad before he shoots me. When I shot them, I thought, 'Jesus Christ, what have I done?'," Routh told one of the prosecutor's experts. "I didn't plan it methodically. But in some kind of tactical scheme, I shot the target facing me first. That was Chad." Routh said he didn’t have any problems with Chris but had to shoot him because he knew he’d shoot back. He said Chris wasn't facing him when he shot him. Ballistics show that Littlefield and Kyle were shot with different guns, but Routh insists that he shot with one gun. When an expert witness told him that the autopsies showed a .45-caliber handgun and 9mm Sig Sauer handgun were used, Routh said they were wrong. Routh insisted that he only used one gun, a 9mm Sig Sauer. He said that he waited for Kyle to empty his gun at the practice target, and he then shot Littlefield. He shot Kyle as he turned toward him so that Kyle wouldn't shot at him. Routh told a reporter from The New Yorker about four months after the murders that he should have used the .45 to kill them because the .45 works better. In his taped interrogation at the police station the night of the murders, he said: "I loaded up a 45 and shot it [at the practice target]." When asked if he shot anything else, he starred straight ahead and went silent. When the ranger asked, "Was the gun (the .45) used to shoot anyone today?," Routh answered, "The revolver? No."
According to the prosecution expert, Routh waited for Kyle to empty his weapon before Routh began shooting. He said Routh told him that he fired at Littlefield and saw Kyle turning and he shot at him two to three times with the same handgun, a 9mm Sig Sauer, but evidence shows Kyle was shot six times with a .45 handgun. And when he saw that Littlefield was twitching, he shot him in the head with the same gun. Routh says he shot Chad because he needed to neutralize the threat. Investigators say Routh shot Kyle first and investigators say Routh used two guns. Routh insists he used one gun. According to prosecution experts, Routh never opened up about how many times he shot Kyle and Littlefield; however, from his comments to the same experts, he said he shot Littlefield, then Kyle two or three times, and then shot Littlefield in the head. Investigators say that Routh shot Kyle six times: five times in the back and side and once in the side of the head, using a .45-caliber pistol; and that he shot Littlefield seven times with a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol: four times in the back, once in the hand, once in the face and once in the head.
NOTE: The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.
Routh also told the defense's expert that he found it odd that Kyle did not shake his hand or introduce himself when picking him up. In the drive to the gun range, Routh asked Kyle if he was tired of eating other peoples' shit and said he smelled the same smell [in the truck] from neighbors [Routh also told a reporter from The New Yorker four months after the murders: "It was the smell in the air that morning, you know. It smelled like shit"]. According to the defense's expert, Routh got mad when Kyle received a text from Routh's girlfriend, Jen. And Routh told him he thought it was a one-way trip to lodge, noting that on the way they passed two white cars, which Routh thought had hybrid pigs in them to kill him.
Routh told the defense's expert that it was odd that Littlefield wasn't shooting at the range: "He felt like he was in danger, like something was going to happen." Routh also told the defense expert that he was irritated Kyle and Littlefield did not ask for help when unloading the guns at the shooting range. At the range, Routh said he shot the 9 millimeter handgun given to him by Kyle for target practice, and he noticed Littlefield wasn't shooting, which seemed odd to him. He felt threatened and shot Littlefield. When he saw Kyle turn, he shot Kyle. Littlefield kept twitching so he shot him to kill him.
Routh also told the defense expert that he thought he neutralized the threat, then shot Kyle to keep from being shot. When the defense expert asked Routh why Kyle and Littlefield didn't kill him immediately at the gun range, Routh said he believed that they were waiting for the right time.
Routh told the defense expert he was sorry, and he commented that assassins pick their times so why did they give him a loaded gun? After he shot them, he said he felt relieved standing over the bodies. He said he knew arrest was likely, but he did what he had to do. He thought Kyle and Littlefield were assassins who needed their fix to kill and it would be him. Routh told the defense expert: "As soon as I did it, I realized I made a mistake." Routh said he knew it wouldn't look good that he killed them.
NOTE: The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.
An expert witness for the prosecution estimates that Littlefield was shot two times in the back first, hitting his spinal cord, which would’ve caused him to drop immediately, possibly to his knees. Littlefield fell forward, then backward, says the expert. Littlefield wounds were all over his body, which indicates that Routh moved around his body. Due to the location of the wounds, Littlefield likely turned towards Routh to have been shot in his face [if the first two shots injured his spinal court, it is highly unlikely that her turned 90-180 degrees to face Routh], but the expert also says Littlefield was either shot in the face while on his knees or on his back [the trajectory of the bullet makes him being on his back unlikely]. In one scenario, the expert says that Littlefield was shot in the face while looking up at Routh. The expert demonstrated how Routh could've been standing when he shot Littlefield twice in the head, and says Littlefield was likely on his back [the trajectory of the bullet makes this impossible]. "Mr. Littlefield is either already deceased or he's distressed, but either way he's defenseless," expert testified. Littlefield was found on his back on the shooting platform. Prosecutors say Littlefield was shot seven times: four times in the back, once in the hand, once in the face and once in the head.
Kyle was shot on the right side of his body in the same area, indicating he did not move after the first shot. Expert says that Kyles’ experience shows he was caught off guard or he would have put up defense. "He absolutely never saw this coming." The expert for the prosecution testified about two scenarios on Kyle: either he was shot rapid fire at once, or he was shot twice and then shot again after he fell to ground. He was found face-down in the dirt just off the shooting platform. Two wounds on Kyle would've been fatal. The expert says Routh was fairly close when he shot both of them and that Kyles' body had gunshot reside, indicating it was at close range. Expert says Kyle was definitely not facing the shooter when he was shot; however, one shot went through his cheek into his spinal cord, which somewhat contradicts the expert's testimony.
The diagrams below are of Littlefield's wounds and the position of his body when it was found.
On the second day of the trial, Barnard, who conducted the autopsies for both Littlefield and Kyle, testified:
Looking at Kyle's autopsy report and pictures, Barnard said Kyle was shot six times. Barnard notes that Chris Kyle was 6'1" and 216 pounds. He said that Kyle had tattoos on his upper left arm, which was a cross and eagle and another one of a frog skeleton on his upper back.
Barnard said that Kyle had one substance in his system, which was venlafaxine, an anti-depressant.
Barnard described the bullet wounds to Kyle's body. He was shot five times. Barnard believes the first shot was to the right side of Kyle's face, the jaw area, which he believes caused injury to Kyle's back-side of his spinal cord. Barnard said another shot was to the shoulder but never exited the body. He said those two bullets were rapidly fatal injuries. Another shot, which Barnard believes is the bullet that killed Kyle, bounced around his whole body, from his right to left, hit his heart and arteries, and hit both lungs. Barnard said two other shots broke Kyle's right arm and exited the underside of his arm; one of the two bullets that exited his arm superficially had penetrated his abdomen. He said that those two shots were also rapidly fatal wounds.
Looking at Littlefield's autopsy and pictures, Barnard pointed out his tattoos: the face of Jesus on his right upper arm, the name "Morgan" on the right side of his upper arm, and a tattoo on his ankle that was not described.
Barnard described the bullet wounds to Littlefield's body. He was shot seven times. One shot entered the left side of his face by the nose, under his eye and traveled down and exited by his left shoulder. Another shot went through the chest and exited the middle of the back. Another shot was through the right upper shoulder. Another shot was through the neck and back of the head. Another shot was through the lower back and exited the right upper chest. Another shot penetrated Littlefield on the top of his head. Another shot entered the front of his left palm and exited the back of his left hand [did they recover and account for seven slugs; if not, could this bullet to the left palm have entered his face or chest after exiting from the back of his left hand?].
They were shot with two different types of handguns.
Barnard said the neither Kyle nor Littlefield had a chance of survival.
NOTE: Click here to read the testimony of Dr. Jeffery Barnard, who conducted the autopsies on Kyle and Littlefield, and Howard Ryan, a forensic operation specialist from New Jersey. Both testified for the prosecution.
Routh said he shot Littlefield, then Kyle two or three times, and then shot Littlefield in the head. Routh said, feeling in slow-motion, he shot Littlefield, the one facing him, first. He said he didn’t want to shoot Kyle but had to so he wouldn’t shoot him back. Routh insists he used one gun, a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun, to shoot Kyle and Littlefield and that he shot Littlefield first, but investigators say two guns were used. Kyle was shot six times with a .45-caliber handgun and Littlefield was shot seven times with a 9mm handgun. If they were shot with the same gun, you could see how Routh could have wheeled around and shot them both, but unless he was holding both guns, how did he shoot both before one or the other stopped him? You would think that since they both texted on the way to the range that Routh was nuts, they would have kept a pretty close eye on him. This would explain why, according to Routh, Littlefield wasn't shooting while Kyle and Routh were.
Also, it seems like both were shot first in the front/sides, and not the back. Littlefield had three wounds from the front: one shot was through the chest and exited the middle of the back; another shot entered the left side of his face by the nose and under his eye and traveled down and exited by his left shoulder. The shooter would have been standing to Kyle's right when he started shooting Kyle. From the autopsy report, Kyle was hit all on his right side, which suggests a rapid string of fire. The first shot could have been the one on Kyle's right side of his face, the jaw area, which Barnard believes caused injury to Kyle's back-side of his spinal cord. Kyle was found face-down in the dirt just off the shooting platform.
Routh told one of the prosecutor's experts that Littlefield was facing him when he shot but Kyle wasn't. "I didn't plan it methodically. But in some kind of tactical scheme, I shot the target facing me first. That was Chad." Routh said he didn’t have any problems with Kyle but had to shoot him because he knew he’d shoot back. He said Kyle wasn't facing him when he shot him. A defense expert who interviewed Routh testified: "Routh waited for Kyle to empty his weapon before he began shooting. Routh told him that he fired at Littlefield and saw Kyle turning and shot him two to three times in the back and the upper torso. He saw Mr. Littlefield twitching, so he shot him in the head, and that stopped the twitching." A prosecution witness testified that a blood stain on the crime scene photo shows a handprint, indicating that Littlefield may have dropped to his knees, and then fell forward before falling backward. Littlefield was found on his back on the shooting platform, a few yards from Kyle's body.
NOTE: The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.
The prosecution says that Routh shot Kyle six times using a .45-caliber pistol: once in the side of the face and five times in the upper side and back; and that he shot Littlefield seven times with a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol: once in the hand, once in the face, once in the top of the head, and four times in the back. But the testimony of Barnard, who conducted the autopsies, contradicts that they were shot multiple times in the back.
Jeffress, a Department of Public Safety forensic scientist specializing in ballistics, collected the shell casings from the scene and tested them for connections to the guns that were collected. More than nine guns were found on the scene. The bullets found in Chris Kyle match a firearm that was on the scene. Autopsy confirmed that the gun that was used to shoot Kyle was not the same gun used to shoot Littlefield. Littlefield was shot with a 9mm and Kyle was shot with a .45. Six shell casings were found from the .45 that Kyle was shot with.
Judge conducting hearing outside presence of jury on prosecution's next expert witness in.
The first witness is Howard Ryan, a forensic crime scene and blood spatter expert.
Expert witness is Howard Ryan, a crime scene expert from New Jersey. Teaches law enforcement classes.
Hart investigated the murders and where the victims/shooter was. Spatter places where everyone was.
Ryan reviewed crime scene photos, autopsy photos of Kyle and Chad Littlefield to determine what happened the day they were killed.
The wounds to Chris were close together.
Ryan says Kyle was shot on his right side and gunshot wounds were confined to a small space, meaning Kyle didn't move much when shot.
Ryan says Chad Littlefield had wounds all over his body, meaning Routh moved around Littlefield's body.
Howard Ryan can testify in front of the jury. Jury heading into courtroom in.
Ryan detailing blood stain analysis, shooting incident reconstruction.
Routh was standing between Chad and Chris. They were shot and fell immediately. they were not shot from same angle.
Ryan: "I don't think it's coincidental that the position of the shooter was in an area where he could engage two target."
Ryan: Two scenarios on Kyle. Either he was shot rapid fire at once, or he was shot twice and then shot again after he fell to ground.
[No expert witness has addressed how Routh had access to two loaded handguns, when all other guns except for those in the waist holsters of the victims, were loaded. Routh told all four experts who interviewed him that he used one gun, a 9mm to shot, and this gun was given to him by Kyle to shot at the practice targets.]
Ryan describes the space as small. "They weren't far away at all." Not long-distance, difficult shots.
Ryan on Kyle gunshot wounds. "He absolutely never saw this coming." Kyle was shot in small area on right side of his body.
Chris was shot on the right side of his body and that indicates Chris did not move much.
Kyle’s body had gunshot reside indicating it was close range and NOT facing shooter.
Two wounds on Kyle would've been fatal. One went through his cheek into his spinal cord.
Kyle was definitely was not facing Routh when he was shot. [How do you explain how one shot entered through Kyle's cheek if he was not facing the shooter?]
Estimates that Chad Littlefied was shot twice in back, hitting spinal cord. Would’ve cause him to drop immediately.
Ryan says Chad Littlefield was shot twice in the back first. Those two shots would've caused Littlefield to fall down, possibly to his knees. [The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.]
Ryan uses diagram held by prosecutor Alan Nash to show where Chad Littlefield was shot and how.
Ryan showing how Chad Littlefield was down after first two shots when he was shot again, including in the head.
Ryan demonstrates how Chad was knocked down after two shots. Head shot came after he was on ground.
Routh was likely standing between Littlefield and Kyle on platform at gun range [it was not presented at the trial how Routh shot from two different guns in rapid succession]. Ryan pointing to spot on crime scene photo.
Witness believes that Routh was moving around as he shot them.
Ryan can say that the path of the blood flow from Chris and Chad showed their positions when shot.
Ryan pointing to blood stain on crime scene photo of Littlefield that shows handprint indicating Littlefield fell forward, then backward.
In one scenario, Ryan says, Littlefield was shot in the face while looking up at Routh.
Nash showing Ryan's drawing of how Chad Littlefield was shot in the head, twice.
Diagram of the trajectory of bullets into Chad’s head.
Due to wound location, Chad likely turned towards Routh to have been shot in his face.
Ryan says Littlefield was either shot in the face while on his knees or on his back. Littlefield was found on his back.
Due to wound location, Chad likely turned towards Routh to have been shot in his face.
Witness says that Chris’ experience shows he was caught off guard or he would have put up defense.
Nash showing Ryan's drawing of how Littlefield was found, where gunshot wounds were.
Ryan positioning mannequin to show gun shot trajectory.
Ryan showing how Routh could've been standing when he shot Littlefield twice in the head. Littlefield was likely on his back.
"Mr. Littlefield is either already deceased or he's distressed, but either way he's defenseless," Ryan says.
Defense asked Howard Ryan whether he could tell Routh's mental state at the time of shooting. He said not from the evidence.
Ryan is finished testifying.
Jason Upshaw back on stand to talk more about the phone calls Eddie made from jail.
Prosecutor about to play recorded phone calls made by Routh in jail.
Convo with Eddie and his mom from April 2014 being played. Talks about a show with pigs he’s watching while in jail.
NOTE: The prosecutors and their expert witnesses accused Eddie of making up the story about pigs AFTER the murders to feign pyschosis, but this is refuted by the fact that he said this in a taped interrogation on the day of the murders. Also, in his sister's taped interrogation at the police station immediately after Eddie left her home on the day of the murders, she told police that her brother "was out of his mind, saying people were sucking his soul and that he could smell the pigs."
Routh can be heard on an April 11, 2014, talking about "some kind of pig show" he has been watching on TV.
Routh conversation with New Yorker journalist. Says he’s excited to read story.
Routh on another call with New Yorker reporter after article published. Routh saying it tore his heart out to kill Littlefield and Kyle.
Routh on call: "I don't know why I did it, but I did it. I feel so shitty about it. I guess you live and you learn, you know."
Reporter asks if Jennifer Weed called Chris’ phone. Eddie says she got number off refrigerator.
Eddie says he got high that morning and ate at 4 AM; when Chris and Chad got him food at Whataburger, he didn’t want it.
Eddie tells reporter that at the range Chris gave him a gun and got himself one.
Routh said it could be a duel.
Routh says he asked Littlefield what the fuck was he doing (not shooting that day) and admits he shot Kyle second.
Reporter asking if Routh shot Kyle and Littlefield because he thought they were going to kill him. Routh: "Well yeah. That's how I felt that day."
Eddie says he should have used the .45 to kill them because the .45 works better.
Routh describing the smell of cologne in the truck he was riding in with Kyle and Littlefield.
Prosecutors have rested their rebuttal case.
Defense recalling Mitchell Dunn in rebuttal.
Dunn previously testified saying he believes Routh has paranoid schizophrenia. He's a forensic psychiatrist.
Dunn heard last week’s testimony by other doctors and says he does not agree with their diagnosis.
Dunn says he does not believe Routh has a mood disorder, as prosecution experts said. Still saying Routh suffers from schizophrenia.
Describing how he interprets mood disorders as defined by other doctors who testified.
Dunn talking about delusions, meds given to Eddie.
Dunn says he deals with schizophrenic patients all the time at state hospital. Many have several delusions at once, like Routh.
Dunn says: "Just because somebody is intoxicated doesn't mean the fame is over if the mental illness is not secondary to that intoxication."
Dunn says he also doesn't believe Routh was intoxicated at the time he killed Kyle and Littlefield. Rambling speech due to mental illness.
Dunn says: "I couldn't have done what Eddie Routh did if I were trying to fake mental illness."
Dunn on Routh: "I don't think he's smart enough to know the character of mental illness is disorganized thinking."
Dunn saying that Routh could have killed, run from police, etc. and be psychotic.
Dunn doesn’t think that Eddie was faking symptoms for defense after arrest.
Dunn says what Eddie said to Officer Briley was indicative of schizophrenia.
Defense attorneys asking if Dunn treats anyone in state hospital with drug-induced psychosis. He said none.
Dunn says that he doesn’t treat anyone with drug-related psychosis in the hospital.
What Dunn is saying is that he doesn’t see drug-induced psychosis in patients.
Dunn says Routh does not have cannabis-induced psychosis but instead has schizophrenia. Dunn reads definition of drug-induced psychosis.
Dunn says that during other times Routh exhibited strange behavior, he hadn't smoked marijuana.
Dunn’s official opinion is Routh was paranoid and schizophrenic at time of murders.
Dunn doesn’t think he saw anything to indicate jealousy as a motive for killings.
Dunn’s opinion of Routh is the same as when he testified - that he didn’t know killing was wrong.
Dunn explaining that Routh had delusions, not drug-induced psychosis.
Routh's periods of calm show it’s not drug induced.
Those with drug-induced psychosis exhibit extremely anxious behavior. Dunn says video of Routh in car after arrest and at jail showed him calm.
Dunn says that even after a week without smoking pot, Routh was still showing disorganized thinking caused by schizophrenia in mental hospital.
Cross examination of Dunn.
A positive drug test from VA is given to him. Dunn says records he saw incorrect.
Prosecutors asking whether Routh had smoked marijuana each time he had been admitted to a mental hospital.
Prosecution - Calling your girlfriend a crack whore is just an insult and not a delusion.
Being on pot doesn’t necessarily hinder your ability to shoot accurately. Dunn agrees.
Prosecutor asking Dunn about times Routh has lied when speaking to officers, psychiatrists. "Not an accurate historian."
Prosecution rehashing Routh's medical records with Dunn.
Drug psychosis is rare and schizophrenia is more commonly seen.
Dunn admits Routh doesn’t always tell the truth.
Going back over Routh’s medical records.
Testimony has concluded. Taking a recess to finish charge and instruction to the jury. Closing arguments today.
Closing arguments beginning.
"The need to be Eddie Routh's friend that day caused them to override" their suspicion of him, says prosecutor Jane Starnes.
Starnes: "We're here to blame and hold accountable the man that put 12 or 13 bullets in those two men...We're not here to fix the VA system."
"This is not a whodunit case," Starnes says. Routh shot each man 6-7 times. "That was deliberate. That was calculated. That was cold."
"We know that Chad's death was not quick," Starnes says. "We know that Chad was on his hands and knees bleeding."
As Chad Littlefield lay dying, Routh shot him in the face "not to prevent him from getting up, but to finish him off."
Starnes says Routh took Kyle 's Navy gun as a trophy.
Starnes says prosecution doesn't have to prove Routh was sane at the time of the slaying. Defense has to prove he was insane.
Starnes says defense hasn't proven that Routh was legally insane when he shot and killed Chad Littlefield and Chris Kyle.
Starnes says cannabis-induced psychosis isn't "reefer madness." Routh was a heavy, regular pot smoker with mood disorder.
Starnes: "You reasonable people of Erath County know that that story of hybrid pigmen and pig assassins is a load of hogwash."
Starnes says Routh admitted to experiencing paranoia when he smoked marijuana.
Routh is obviously a little odd, Starnes says. "He's a weird weird guy," she said, but he still knew what he did was wrong.
Starnes reiterates that Routh waited for Kyle to empty his revolver before shooting him. Then he finished off Littlefield out of anger.
Starnes says Routh buying Taco Bell burritos after killing Kyle and Littlefield shows he had the "munchies," wasn't delusional.
Starnes reminding jurors about Routh leading police on a high-speed chase after killing Kyle and Littlefield. "He knew what he did was wrong."
Starnes says "Crazy don't run."
Starnes pointing out the times Routh lied about his actions and behaviors. Lied about drug use.
"That is not insanity. That is just cold, calculate capital murder," Starnes says. "He was not, by any means, insane."
Defense attorney Tim Moore now arguing in closing arguments.
Moore going over the charge with the jury.
Moore asks the jurors to go with their consciences and not vote based on peer pressure.
Moore: "We can't tell you by law the result if you find him not guilty by reason of insanity." Faces auto life sent if guilty.
Moore says Routh was likely no longer high by the time he got to gun range with Kyle and Littlefield. Psychosis not caused by drugs, he says.
Moore says investigators collected every shell casing from scene but didn't get blood sample from Routh to determine intoxication.
Defense attorney R. Shay Isham has now jumped into closing arguments after Moore.
Isham reminding jurors to go back and re-read what the witnesses testified instead of just listening to what the attorneys said.
Isham: "He wasn't fleeing; he was going home." Routh's actions indicate he was confused, had unorganized thoughts.
Isham says Routh was starting to show signs of schizophrenia as early as July 2011, when he was first admitted to VA hospital.
Isham: "Everybody that knew Eddie said that marijuana calmed Eddie down and helped him relax," didn't make him lash out.
Isham reiterates that cannabis-induced psychosis is rare. Also says investigators didn't do blood draw on Routh to determine intoxication.
Isham on day of slayings: "[Routh] hadn't showered for weeks. Take that for what it's worth."
Defense attorney Isham says there was no evidence that Routh smoked "wet" marijuana the day he killed Kyle and Littlefield.
Isham said prosecutors mischaracterized Routh's drug use.
J. Warren St. John now finishing closing arguments for defense.
St. John: Common sense wonders how Routh was intoxicated the afternoon of the slayings, many hours after he smoked pot.
St. John: "He didn't kill those men because of who he wanted to be. He killed those men because he had a delusion."
St. John says state pointing to any motive for the killings (jealousy, feeling rejected) because they know Routh is mentally ill.
Defense: "They're so worried that you'll believe the testimony of Dr. Dunn that [Routh] was psychotic."
St. John: “The Eddie you saw on February 2, 2013, is not the same Eddie you see over there, because why? Because he’s taking his medicine.”
Defense attorneys have finished their closing arguments.
Prosecutor Alan Nash now finishing closing for state.
CLOSINGS have begun. DA - says it’s not right to call this the “American Sniper” trial.
State - Two were killed. Chad was Chris’ best friend. He didn’t have a movie made about him.
Prosecutor reminds jurors to follow their oath they took.
Pros - We know who killed them. They were alive less than an hour before being found dead.
Eddie waited for right time to kill. When Chris’ gun was empty.
Shot Chris in his arm he used for shooting. Shot Chad in face to keep him from getting up.
Routh leaves and confesses to uncle and sister, to get his dog and flee. Confessed to officers.
It was a gruesome crime but that doesn’t make Eddie insane.
Defense job is to prove insanity. They’ve called family, employer, girlfriend, and two doctors. [The jury wouldn't have know about the first doctor, because the jury wasn't present when he testified and the judge ruled that his testimony was not admissable.]
State’s witness has been a professional for years, Dr Price. (He accused Eddie of faking it.)
State’s doctors says personality disorder fueled by pot and alcohol. Doesn’t qualify as insane.
Routh lies to get himself out of trouble.
There are signs he was intoxicated - he told Officer Briley that the pot in the bong was laced. [If this were true, the police would have taken a blood sample to determine level of intoxication, but they didn't.]
When it’s laced you don’t know what’s in it. [Testimony from uncle and expert said it wasn't laced.]
He has a history of smoking pot from back in high school.
Eddie lied to doctors and said that he didn’t smoke pot on day of murders. Uncle testified they did. [But he testified that it wasn't laced].
Told girlfriend they needed to make pot cupcakes. Killings between 3-4 and he smoked/drank all morning. [This claim by prosecutors is not backed up by testimony.]
Breaking down insanity defense - turned backs on Chris and Chad yet afraid of them.
In reality - he waited until they were most vulnerable, then left, ate, visited relatives.
Does this sound like an insane person to you?
Admits he killed because they wouldn’t talk to him. Feels bad about it. They’ll forgive me.
Tells sister he has to run away because of what he’s done. This shows he knew right from wrong.
Insane people don’t run. He did. Acknowledges he was going to jail for long time.
Routh said he would tell family sorry for killing Chris and Chad - he knew what he did was wrong.
Routh said the Bible says you shouldn’t kill. Routh said it’s a shitty thing to do.
Eddie acknowledged he would get arrested for murders. “This doesn’t look good.”
Motives discussed - Stopping for food, mad they didn’t shake his hand or talk to him on ride.
Says he shot Chad to keep him from getting up. Chad wouldn’t have gotten up anyways.
Possible motive - Chad shouldn’t have been there with them that day.
He knew if he only shot Chad, Chris would kill him. That’s been thought about. That’s not insanity.
Defense up.
Why would he kill two men he never met? Pot? Or severe mental illness and not knowing what he was doing?
Jury has to consider two things:
1. Don’t consider outside sources
2. Don’t believe innuendos
Defense - If you want to see any evidence, ask to see it from deliberations room.
Your decision is guilty of capitol murder or insane.
Defense tells jury they all 12 have to agree unanimously. it’s ok if you can’t.
Defense- Don’t let making someone happy be at the expense of your conscious.
You get to decide what is wrong in your opinion - judge can’t do that.
If you think he didn’t know right from wrong at the time of the murders, he’s guilty by insanity.
Evidence was collected from all over and you can go on that too to determine his guilt.
Officers didn’t test his blood to see if he was under the influence. They made a choice to not give that evidence.
No sample but yet they’ve said all during trial he was intoxicated and not insane.
Remember that when you’re considering credible evidence.
Routh’s mom said he was fine before Marines but came home different.
He was put on medication.
Defense - our doctor sees patients every day. State’s doctors do not.
Defense switches for different attorney to take over closings.
You can believe state when they say all the reasons he was sane.
If he wanted to flee, he wouldn’t have stopped for food or visited relatives.
Disorganized thoughts are a marker for schizophrenia.
People typically develop schizophrenia in their 20’s.
Defense points out he’s delusional and has been from 2011 on.
Told girlfriend weeks before murders that he was gonna die. Supports his thought Chad or Chris would kill him.
His girlfriend has nothing she would gain for testifying, no need to lie.
Explaining all the ways he qualifies as someone with schizophrenia.
Defense almost over. Pointing out the ways Eddie is insane and not just intoxicated. It’s delusion.
Defense says state will use any excuse to avoid the fact Routh was mentally ill at time of murders.
Why was he taking all these meds and still taking them if he’s not psychotic?
Defense has rested.
Prosecution says Routh tested positive for pot each time he went to VA.
Routh’s excuses need to stop.
Pros - Let’s talk about the kid who drove up with his dad and found the bodies. [The resort hunting guide who found the bodies had a hunting party with him, including a child, but what does that have to do with anything?]
Pros - Routh stands over Chad as he is dying.
Prosecution closing by pointing out all the ways he knew right from wrong on day of murders.
Nash says defense brought up excuse after excuse after excuse for Eddie Ray Routh's behavior when he killed Kyle and LIttlefield.
"It is time for his deep well of excuses for violent criminal behavior to come to an end," Nash says.
Nash: One of the biggest fights Routh and his ex-girlfriend got into was when he got out of VA and immediately started smoking pot again.
Nash point 1: "Some of us heart disease, some of us have cancer...and we are good citizens and we are good neighbors..."
Nash point 2: "And I'm tired of the proposition that if you have a mental illness, you can't be held responsible for what you do." [Prosecution inadvertently confirming that Routh is mentally ill.]
Nash refers to call bet Routh, reporter in which "his true colors came out then." Wasn't pretending to be insane on call.
Nash: "[Routh] stands over Chad Littlefield as he's bleeding and dying" and reloaded his gun before fleeing.
Prosecutor closes his arguments with: "This defendant gunned down two men in cold blood, in the back, in our county. Find him guilty."
NOTE: The prosecution claims that Kyle and Littlefield were shot in the back, but this is contrary to the evidence.
Defense attorney R. Shay Isham mentioned that prosecutors repeatedly asked Routh's mother why she didn't tell Kyle about the extent of Routh's mental illness. At that point, Kyle's widow, Taya Kyle, stormed out of the courtroom.
Taya was upset that Defense alleged Eddie’s mom did not warn Chris and Chad Routh had mental problems.
After about three hours of closing arguments from both sides.
Jury deliberations begin in capital murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh.
Jury will be sequestered if they don't reach a verdict tonight.
State District Judge Jason Cashon turned the case over to the North Texas jury around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at 6:36 PM CST.
Deliberations began at 6:36 PM CST and the jury ordered dinner in.
Jury has verdict 90 minutes later at 8:04 PM, even including time to eat dinner.
Eddie Ray Routh is found guilty of capital murder. He is sentenced to life in prison.
Guilty by reason of insanity verdicts rare. Jurors must believe defendant didn't know right from wrong.
Victim impact: “You took the lives of two heroes, men that tried to be a friend to you, and you became an American disgrace."
Don Littlefield: “Chad had a quiet nature and was a good listener. He cared about people and he gave you his time because he felt like you needed it.”
Don Littlefield: “Now you will have the rest of your wasted life to remember his name. Let me remind you his name was Chad Littlefield.”
Judy Littlefield spoke after verdict. "We waited for two years for God to get justice for us on behalf of our son."
The prosecution never presented a logical motive for the murders.
ALSO CLICK HERE TO READ TEXAN NEWS SERVICE COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL TESTIMONY.
Expert on gunshot wounds, called by prosecution, says Routh was standing between Kyle and Littlefield when he shot them, so that he "could engage both targets." Prosecution expert says Routh did not shoot the two victims from the same angle. Prosecution expert says that when they were shot, they fell immediately.
ReplyDeleteRouth told a prosecution expert that he believed they were taking him to the gun range to kill him. He came to this conclusion during the two-hour drive in the truck to the gun range. Routh said he was surprised that Kyle brought Littlefield along. Routh also said he was offended that Kyle didn't shake his hand. Routh saw all the guns in the truck. Routh was agitated and suspicious. The two of them were texting and not speaking to Routh. He was nervous when the men didn't talk to him. Routh told the prosecution expert that he first thought of shooting Kyle and Littlefield on the way to gun range, but didn't want to get into a car crash.
Routh consistently said he didn't like that Littlefield wasn't shooting at the range. "I better shoot Chad before he shoots me. When I shot them, I thought, 'Jesus Christ, what have I done?'," Routh told one of the prosecutor's experts. "I didn't plan it methodically. But in some kind of tactical scheme, I shot the target facing me first. That was Chad." Routh said he didn’t have any problems with Chris but had to shoot him because he knew he’d shoot back. He said Chris wasn't facing him when he shot him. Ballistics show that Littlefield and Kyle were shot with different guns, but Routh insists that he shot with one gun. When an expert witness told him that the autopsies showed a .45 and 9mm were used, Routh said they were wrong. Routh insisted that he only used one gun, a 9mm handgun, and that he shot Littlefield first. Routh told a reporter from the New Yorker about one month after the murders that he should have used the .45 to kill them because the .45 works better.
According to the prosecution expert, Routh waited for Kyle to empty his weapon before Routh began shooting. He said Routh told him that he fired at Littlefield and saw Kyle turning and he shot at him two to three times. And when he saw that Littlefield was twitching, he shot him in the head. Routh says he shot Chad first. Investigators say Routh shot Kyle first. Investigators say Routh used two guns. Routh insists he used one gun. According to prosecution experts, Routh never opened up about how many times he shot Kyle and Littlefield; however, from his comments to the same experts, he said he shot Littlefield, then Kyle two or three times, and then shot Littlefield in the head. Investigators say that Routh shot Kyle five times in the back and side and once in the side of the head, using a .45-caliber pistol, and that he shot Littlefield with a 9 mm pistol four times in the back, once in the hand, once in the face and once in the head.
Continued...
Routh also told the defense's expert that he found it odd that Kyle did not shake his hand or introduce himself when picking him up. In the drive to the gun range, Routh asked Kyle if he was tired of eating other peoples shit and said he smelled the same smell from neighbors. According to the defense's expert, Routh got mad when Kyle received a text from Routh's girlfriend, Jen. And Routh told him he thought it was a one-way trip to lodge, noting that on the way they passed two white cars, which Routh thought had hybrid pigs in them to kill him.
ReplyDeleteRouth told the defense's expert that it was odd that Littlefield wasn't shooting at the range: "He felt like he was in danger, like something was going to happen." Routh also told the defense expert that he was irritated Kyle and Littlefield did not ask for help when unloading the guns at the shooting range. At the range, Routh said he shot the 9 millimeter handgun at the target and noticed Littlefield wasn't shooting, which seemed odd to him. He felt threatened and shot Littlefield. When he saw Kyle turn, he shot Kyle. Littlefield kept twitching so he shot him to kill him.
Routh also told the defense expert that he thought he neutralized the threat, then shot Kyle to keep from being shot. When the defense expert asked Routh why Kyle and Littlefield didn't kill him immediately at the gun range, Routh said he believed that they were waiting for the right time.
Routh told the defense expert he was sorry, and he commented that assassins pick their times so why did they give him a loaded gun? After he shot them, he said he felt relieved standing over the bodies. He said he knew arrest was likely, but he did what he had to do. He thought Kyle and Littlefield were assassins who needed their fix to kill and it would be him. Routh told the defense expert: "As soon as I did it, I realized I made a mistake." Routh said he knew it wouldn't look good that he killed them.
Expert estimates that Littlefield was shot two times in the back first, hitting his spinal cord, which would’ve caused him to drop immediately, possibly to his knees. Littlefield fell forward, then backward, says the expert. Littlefield wounds were all over his body, which indicates that Routh moved around his body. Due to the location of the wounds, Littlefield likely turned towards Routh to have been shot in his face, but the expert also says Littlefield was either shot in the face while on his knees or on his back. In one scenario, the expert says that Littlefield was shot in the face while looking up at Routh. The expert demonstrated how Routh could've been standing when he shot Littlefield twice in the head, and says Littlefield was likely on his back. "Mr. Littlefield is either already deceased or he's distressed, but either way he's defenseless," expert testified. Littlefield was found on his back on the shooting platform.
Kyle was shot on the right side of his body in the same area, indicating he did not move after the first shot. Expert says that Kyles’ experience shows he was caught off guard or he would have put up defense. "He absolutely never saw this coming." Expert testified about two scenarios on Kyle: either he was shot rapid fire at once, or he was shot twice and then shot again after he fell to ground. He was found face-down in the dirt just off the shooting platform. Two wounds on Kyle would've been fatal. Routh was fairly close when he shot both of them, but expert says Kyles' body had gunshot reside, indicating it was at close range. Expert says Kyle was definately not facing the shooter when he was shot; however, one went through his cheek into his spinal cord, which somewhat contradicts the expert's testimony.
Deliberations began at 6:36 PM CST and the jury has ordered dinner in. Jury reached verdict 90 minutes later at 8:04 PM, even including the time it took to eat dinner: Eddie Ray Routh is found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. Guilty by reason of insanity verdicts rare. Jurors must believe defendant didn't know right from wrong.
ReplyDeleteVictim impact: “You took the lives of two heroes, men that tried to be a friend to you, and you became an American disgrace."
Don Littlefield: “Chad had a quiet nature & was a good listener. He cared about ppl, & he gave you his time bc he felt like you needed it.”
Don Littlefield: “Now you will have the rest of your wasted life to remember his name. Let me remind you his name was Chad Littlefield.”
Judy Littlefield spoke after verdict. "We waited for 2 yrs for God to get justice for us on behalf of our son."
GRAYWOLF
The legal definition of insanity id nonsense. There are psychopaths and sociopaths out there that are totally insane and certainly know right from wrong, but don't care. Ted Bundy is a prime example of a total psychopath. He killed without any remorse and went to great lengths to cover his crimes up so he wouldn't be caught, so he could keep doing it; because he enjoyed it. Some people are born insane (Bundy) and some people are driven insane, like this man. However, I believe that he really knew what he was doing from the get-go.
That being said. It is a total disgrace that these men and women that have been sent to fight our wars are abandoned on their return home and left to depend on charity for the care, both physical and mental, that should have freely been provided by our government. This President and the former President and all the congress' that have sat during that time should be ashamed of themselves for letting these veterans and their families (caregivers) be neglected.
Observer
Our country is really primitive in spite of all of our claims of "exceptionalism". Cleary this poor vet was psychotic, totally crazed at the time of the killings. Yet we're going to put this poor guy in prison for life? We are not civilized, instead this man should be helped, studied, and can maybe teach us how to help other vets in a similar state of mind.
Second, obviously it was a bad idea to put a gun in this guy's hands given how sick he clearly was. There's a lesson to be learned there too. As a country, and as a species we need to grow up and not be so reactionary.
Cameron
This being Yahoo, I need not preface by saying "how tragic" and "American hero" etc. etc. The rurals on that jury voted the flag. Yet how could they have done otherwise? They live in the area. An insanity defense had little chance in those purlieus. . . Tough to switch court venues when you've got the prosecution behind a couple of hometown boys. But . . . if there was a larger issue here, or at least as large as "justice" for the families involved - that being mental illness - Texas, as usual, brings up the rear.
Buzz
I know a couple of nut cases with PTSD who are on psychotic medicine. Last thing I would ever think of doing is going to a shooting range with any of them. They all for some reason have found it necessary to purchase assault weapons and boast about going to the ranges. I know the attention is not going to be about the nut cases when something bad happens, but rather on it happening with an assault weapon. The government really needs to do a medical check on war veterans to see if PTSD has been diagnosed before they give permission to purchase any weapons. I am a veteran, but I expect a lot of veterans will not share my view. Oh, well. We can surely be creative enough to find other ways to help our veterans with PTSD. They do indeed need to know that we care about them. Kyle and Littlefield paid a heavy price for trying to help in a wrong way.
Continued...
Michael
ReplyDeleteI hope all the haters are happy. This man was at one time considered a hero for his service to America. He is one of thousands who have returned with PTSD. What he did to two other American heroes is despicable. However, these guys that took him to the shooting range had a clue as to his mental challenges. I will not blame the victims, but we do need to address the shortcomings of the VA and America with mental illness care. No one won here.
tom
as with most trials in america, all the prosecution has to do is say the word "marijuana" and boom, instant conviction. That guy was/is mad as a hatter and should be in a mental asylum. I know people with the same set of mental problems described here. Of course they are going to say things that make it seem like they are in control of their actions, a paranoid schiz has to do that otherwise the incongruity is too much to handle and they have another break.
Alvin A
In Texas. He was insane and hopefully when they can find an impartial jury he will be treated. He doesn't belomg in regullar prison but he did kill 2 men from his insanity.
censordeeznutz
Eddie Ray whould have been in the VA mental ward...but no...they get done with the Army and there is no type of support system at all for the Vets.
This just shows the extreme..but here the Military Industrial complex make billions and billions off war and the kids they use to power this are #$%$ on.
Cheney made Billlions and Billions with his Halliburton...Black Water ...all the private war contractors.....big Political doners...and then the kids are out trying to find jobs and waking up in the middle of the night with PSD
Great Job George Bush...find any Nukes lately?
Now you hear the politicians talking...WHAT IS GOOD FOR ISRAEL IS GOOD FOR AMERICA...
Well Israel want America to invade Iran...and do all the dirty work for the Jews.
Great Future for American Soldiers!!!
WatchtheGoalie
What scares me is that alcohol and cannabis are drugs on their own that alter the state of the mind. Add prescription psych drugs to those over the counter stress-relieving "relaxers" and sometimes an explosion occurs. Especially if emotional trauma is at play too.
CMCVIIX
Kind of hard to get a fair trial when the jurors are watching the Academy Awards and people gushing about "American Sniper." He'll get a retrial after all the overexposure slows down. Probably be found guilty again but at least he'll get a fair trial.
Paul
This is another failure by the VA. So a VET goes nuts with a gun and kills another two Veterans. It sounds like the VA should have done more for this person that was clearly having serious mental health issues. Sad all around.
KenM
I would love to say he is and was mentally ill at the time of the incident, but I didn't hear the testimony. But..... I really think the guy was and is very ill. If you want to sentence him to life, I believe it should be in a mental institute
Richard
I'm waiting for Jon Krakauer to write the book that tells us what really happened. Two battle alert veterans letting their guard down isn't likely around anyone they actually considered a threat. The assassin must have done a good job of acting for that to happen. Just as in the killing of Pat Tillman by a fellow soldier, the facts don't add up.
CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 [800-273-8255]
ReplyDelete"Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1" touched Academy members with its riveting portrayal of the employees who staff the VA's suicide hotline in Canandaigua, New York.
In their acceptance speeches, producers Dana Perry and Ellen Goosenberg Kent thanked those who answer the phones — many of whom are veterans themselves or military family members — and former service members.
"I want to thank the people at the crisis line who care for veterans as deeply as if their own lives depend on it," Kent said.
First aired on HBO in late 2013, the 40-minute documentary showcases the emotional strain the job has on employees and the deep compassion and devotion they have for troubled veterans on the other end of the line.
One crisis line staffer, Darlene, talks to a former Marine with five children, telling him that if he hurts himself, they won't have a father — that Marine — they need.
She convinces him to answer the door to emergency services by asking what his friend, whom he lost in Afghanistan, would want him to do.
Since it was launched in 2007, the line has fielded more than 1.35 million calls and made roughly 42,000 lifesaving rescues.
In her acceptance speech, producer Perry dedicated the film to her son Evan, who died in 2005 at age 15.
"We should talk about suicide out loud. This is for him," Perry said.
The number for the Veterans Crisis Line is 800-273-8255. Chatting also is available online at www.veteranscrisisline.net and by texting 838255.
Routh's attorneys were court appointed because he could not afford to hire one.
ReplyDeleteOn February 16, 2015, the fiftth day of the trial, the judge in Eddie Ray Routh's trial expressed his concerned with court costs.
The Right to a Speedy and Fair Trial and the Right to an Attorney
Speedy Trial:
The Speedy Trial Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy . . . trial . . . ."[1] The Clause protects the defendant from delay between the presentation of the indictment or similar charging instrument and the beginning of trial. In Barker v. Wingo (1972), the Supreme Court developed a four-part test that considers the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the defendant's assertion of his right to a speedy trial, and the prejudice to the defendant. A violation of the Speedy Trial Clause is cause for dismissal with prejudice of a criminal case.
Miranda Rights:
"You have the right to remain silent. You have to right to an attorney...If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you at no cost to you..."
We all know this refrain, echoed time and time again by cops on TV and cops on our neighborhood streets. But is this promise actually fulfilled for those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer?
Until Gideon v. Wainwright guaranteed legal representation regardless of your ability to pay, dire poverty could unfairly stack the scales of justice against a poor person charged with a felony. March 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Gideon, and we should take a moment to acknowledge our debt to Clarence Earl Gideon, whose handwritten petition to the Supreme Court resulted in this landmark decision holding that a poor person accused of a felony is entitled to counsel if he cannot afford his own lawyer.
But to truly pay tribute to Gideon's legacy, we should also be honest about the fact that too many people are still failing to get an adequate defense in 2013. Today, about 80% of criminal defendants nationwide cannot afford their own lawyer. Dedicated public defenders face a severe lack of funding and massive caseloads, and many describe having only minutes with their clients before entering the courtroom. With their liberty and their livelihoods on the line, poor people desperately need public defenders who are competent, zealously advocate for their clients, and are supported by adequate resources.
Our criminal justice system needs to do better. Over the next year, the ACLU will share stories that illustrate the state of indigent defense 50 years after Gideon. We hope that these real-world accounts will motivate us to examine how we can better fulfill our Constitutional duty to provide competent and well-resourced counsel for the poor.
https://www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/you-have-right-attorney-we-all-know-hollywood-version-whats-real-story