The following are tweets on the testimony of forensic operation specialist from New Jersey, Howard Ryan, as witnessed by reporters [my comments are in brackets].
The jury is not currently present.On the second day of the trial, Dr. Jeffrey Barnard, who conducted the autopsies for both Littlefield and Kyle, testified for the prosecution. The following are tweets on Barnard's testimony as witnessed by reporters [my comments are in brackets].
First witness is Howard Ryan. A forensic operation specialist from New Jersey.
Ryan spent the last 16 years working for the state police as a crime scene specialist. He analyzed blood stains and recreated crime scenes.
He also worked at the crime scene investigation school in New Jersey, and was also an instructor at a crime scene investigation school in Tennessee.
He was approached by one of the Texas Rangers and was told about the murders of Kyle and Littlefield and was asked to come on board and help.
The prosecution had given Ryan crime scene photographs, crime scene reports, lab submissions and results, and other investigative material such as the autopsy report. Ryan reviewed reports and photos to determine what happened the day they were killed.
Ryan explains that it is important to establish where the shooter and victims were standing when the shootings took place.
Ryan explains that it was very helpful to have the blood stain patterns from the crime scene.
"We had scenarios where he (Kyle) had been standing when the events took place and where his final resting place was," Ryan said.
The wounds to Kyle 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 explains that knowing where the bullets entered and exited were very important because it shows how far away Kyle and Littlefield stood from Routh when he shot them.
Littlefield was shot at various locations on his body, indicating movement, according to Ryan. His wounds were sustained on several sites on his body.
"The wound track on each gun shot, either way the body was down lower, on one knee or both knees (Littlefield), his face and head were exposed to the muzzle. Both gunshots went through the body. We were expecting more of a forward splatter of blood. We were expecting more kinetic energy, bringing more biological evidence with it," said Ryan
"The bullet that passed between his shoulder stayed in his clothing," leaving Ryan to believe that Littlefield could have been up against a hard surface.
"It is our opinion that he was shot in the back," said Ryan of Littlefield.
One of the two shots severed Littlefield's spinal cord.
The prosecution is questioning Ryan about his two scenarios of what position Littlefield was in when he was shot.
Ryan is explaining how gunshot residue aided him in deciding his scenarios.
Judge Cashon has said that this evidence will aid the jury, and they are now being brought in.
The jury is now present.
A ballistics dummy has just been brought in to the courtroom.
Ryan is being officially sworn in, and he is being introduced to the jury.
Ryan has 27 years of experience in the forensic field. He specializes in crime scene reconstruction and blood stain pattern analysis. Ryan is explaining the kinds of training he does for different law enforcement agencies. Ryan is explaining what he received from the Texas Rangers to aid him in the case such as crime scene photos, reports etc.
Ryan says the crime scene was very confined and all shots took place in the same general area.
Routh was standing between Kyle and Littlefield. 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 targets."
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.
Ryan said when he went to the crime scene and stood on the deck of the gun range, he realized how close everything was, it was a small area. He did not get that impression in the photographs he received.
Ryan describes the space as small. "They weren't far away at all." Not long-distance, difficult shots.
Kyle's wounds were located all on the upper right side of his body [which is not the back, contrary to what the prosecution keeps saying], and Ryan says this is unique.
Ryan explains that Kyle was not facing Routh when he was shot [just as Routh described; he said Kyle started to turn toward him, which would explain why the shots all were to the right side of Kyle's body.] Two wounds on Kyle would've been fatal. One went through his cheek into his spinal cord [probably the first shot as he was turning toward Routh].
Ryan is now explaining what causes gunshot residue. Kyle’s body had gunshot reside indicating it was close range and not facing shooter.
The jury is being shown crime scene photos of Kyle and how he fell when he was shot.
"It was obvious he never saw it coming," said Ryan of Kyle. Ryan says that Kyle’s experience shows he was caught off guard or he would have put up defense.
Crime scene photos of Littlefield are being shown, and Ryan is explaining blood evidence.
Ryan believes that Littlefield was originally standing when he was shot. He was shot in his hand and there was substantial blood evidence in his hand.
Ryan is explaining to the jury his scenarios on how Littlefield was shot.
Estimates that Littlefied was shot twice in back, hitting spinal cord. This would’ve caused him to drop immediately. Ryan says Littlefield was shot twice in the back first. Those two shots would've caused Littlefield to fall down, possibly to his knees.
Ryan uses diagram held by prosecutor Alan Nash to show where Littlefield was shot and how.
Ryan showing how Littlefield was down after first two shots when he was shot again, including in the head.
Ryan demonstrates how Littlefield was knocked down after two shots, and says the head shot came after he was on ground.
Ryan points to a spot on the crime scene photo where Routh was likely standing between Littlefield and Kyle on the platform at gun range [it was not presented at the trial how Routh shot from two different guns in rapid succession].
Ryan believes that Routh was moving around as he shot them.
Ryan can say that the path of the blood flow from Kyle and Littlefield showed their positions when shot.
Ryan pointing to the crime scene photo of Littlefield that shows blood stain 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 Littlefield was shot in the head, twice.
Diagram of the trajectory of bullets into Littlefield’s head.
Due to wound location, Littlefield likely turned towards Routh to have been shot in his face [this doesn't make sense with the scenarios Ryan is presenting].
Ryan says Littlefield was either shot in the face while on his knees or on his back [the trajectory of the bullet would not support that he was on his back]. Littlefield was found on his back.
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 [the trajectory of the bullet does not support this scenario].
"Mr. Littlefield is either already deceased or he's distressed, but either way he's defenseless," Ryan says.
Ryan believes that the second scenario where Littlefield was shot on his back is more plausible due to blood stains and projectiles.
Ryan has prepared a mannequin depicting the location of the wounds and trajectory of shots to Littlefield.
Courtroom observers cannot see the mannequin from the pool feed in the overflow room. The jury has been asked to stand and move around to observe.
According to Ryan there are two possibilities concerning the two shots to Littlefield's head. Littlefield was either already deceased or in distress; either way, he was defenseless. Ryan does not believe that Littlefield was deceased when he was shot in the the head.
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.Throughout the past two years and during the trial, the prosecution said Chad was shot five times in the back and Chris was shot four times in the back. Assistant Attorney General of the Texas Attorney General's Office, Jane Starnes, who assisted Erath County prosecutors in the case, said the following in the State's closing arguments.
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 [how would this be possible? it would make more sense that it entered from the upper chest and exited the lower back when he was down on his knees and as the shooter stood above him]. 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 his left hand?].
They were shot with two different types of handguns [the prosecution never explained how they were shot rapid fire with two different handguns but only one shooter].
Barnard said the neither Kyle nor Littlefield had a chance of survival.
"He waited until Chris' gun was spent to start shooting. He waited for the opportune time. And how did he shoot them? He shot Chad in the back two times. He then shot Chris in the back. He shot him in the face, and then in quick succession he shot him in the arm."The following is an unofficial diagram of bullet wounds to Kyle and Littlefield based on courtroom testimony from Ryan and Barnard and the most logical trajectory of the bullets.
"You heard from Dr. Barnard and Howard Ryan, that this guy who had served four tours was shot down at a shooting range. But Chad's death was not as quick. You know that Chad reached out and was shot through his hand. You know that Chad reached out and ran his hands through that pool of blood. And then you know that he walked around and shot Chad in the back of the head. He wanted Chad dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead, dead. He then stood over Chad's body and reload's that magazine [there is no evidence to support that he stood over Chad's body when he reloaded]. What does he need that gun for? He took that gun because it was a trophy [this is pure conjecture]. He then fled that scene because he knew he had to get away."
On May 1, 2015, ABC News published a article promoting Taya Kyles book, "American Wife," where they reported that both Kyle and Littlefield were shot six times in the back. The following is an excerpt from the article.
The following is commentary and more courtroom coverage via Twitter of the trial, including the testimony of prosecution witnesses Howard Ryan and Dr. Jeffery Barnard.Routh’s mother reached out to Chris Kyle for help with her son, who, after he returned home, was acting erratically, smoking marijuana, drinking heavily and even threatening suicide. Though he never met Routh, Chris Kyle agreed to help and asked Chad Littlefield to come with him to Rough Creek Lodge.
According to Routh’s attorney, Warren St. John, Chris Kyle had not informed Routh or his mother ahead of time about the trip to Rough Creek Lodge.“[Routh] had no idea they were going to a gun range,” St. John said. “He thought they were going to go grab some coffee. So, when he got in the truck, he was somewhat shocked that it was full of guns and full of multiple pieces of ammunition. ... I don't think he was afraid of the guns. I think he was concerned about what are these guys about to do.”According to his attorneys, Routh also said he was upset Kyle didn’t shake his hand when they met, and that he was further distressed when Kyle stopped to grab a bite to eat at a fast-food restaurant.“Chris Kyle gave him a hamburger and basically told him to eat it and he thought that was awful strange,” St. John said.Routh set off alarm bells for Chris Kyle and Littlefield while the three drove to the hunting resort. He sat in the back, as Littlefield sat up front with Kyle. During the drive, Littlefield texted Chris Kyle, saying, “This dude is straight up nuts.” Kyle responded, “He’s right behind me, watch my six,” which is military slang for “watch my back.”The tension did not ease once the three men arrived at the range. After waiting for Kyle to fire all his shots down range, Routh used one of Kyle’s 9mm handguns to shoot Littlefield six times in the back, killing him. Routh then killed Kyle with six shots, all in the back.“Neither one of them saw it coming,” said Taya Kyle.Routh then took off, taking Kyle’s 9mm and loading it with 15 more bullets, according to authorities. He then jumped into Kyle’s truck and drove back towards his home in Lancaster, Texas.On the way, he stopped at his sister’s house and told her he had just killed two men. As soon as he left, his sister called 911, saying “my brother just came by here. He told me that he committed a murder.”Mark Treibly was at the Midlothian police station when he heard a report about a white male driving a supercharged black Ford F350 with jacked up tires.“I knew immediately that was the description of Chris’ truck,” Treibly said. “I immediately left the police station and went to [Kyle’s] house. ... Taya immediately knew something was wrong, and I told her that it was confirmed that Chris had been murdered.”Routh made it to his own house, where authorities said he stopped to pick up his dog, Girly, but he barely made it out of the driveway before police swarmed him. Routh then led police on a high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods. He made it to I-35 North, but eventually gave up. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Littlefield and Kyle.
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, Jennifer 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 in an interview before the trial. "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 another prosecution expert who interviewed Routh before the trial, 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 he shot Kyle two or three times, and then he shot Littlefield in the head.
Investigators for the prosecution 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 two-hour 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, Jennifer Weed. 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 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.
The diagrams below are of Littlefield's wounds and the position of his body when it was found.
Routh said he shot Littlefield, then he shot Kyle two or three times, and then he shot Littlefield in the head to stop him from twitching. 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 at the practice targets 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,which indicates that Routh didn't start shooting immediately after Kyle finished shooting at the practice target since he had left the platform for some reason.
Routh told one of the prosecutors' experts that Littlefield was facing him when he shot him but that 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. 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 the shooting platform on his back with his legs tucked. He was a few yards from Kyle's body, which was just off the platform.
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.
Prosecutors played a recorded phone calls made by Routh in jail: one call between Eddie and his mom from April 2014 where he talks about a show with pigs that he’s watching while in jail and two calls with a reporter from the New Yorker.
Routh can be heard on an April 11, 2014, talking about "some kind of pig show" he has been watching on TV.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 conversation with the 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 his number off the 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.
