As the trial of Eddie Ray Routh, the accused killer of “American Sniper” hero Chris Kyle and Kyle’s friend Chad Littlefield, entered its second week, jurors were shown a video of Routh confessing to the fatal shootings. Kyle and Littlefield were killed on February 2, 2013. Routh, who was 25 at the time of the shootings, has confessed to the killings but has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Routh was reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Kyle and Littlefield had invited the fellow veteran to a shooting range with them for some camaraderie and stress relief. While at the range, Routh allegedly shot and killed both Kyle and Littlefield.
The video of Routh’s confession was shown in court on Monday, to help illustrate Routh’s mental state shortly after the killings, as KXAN reported. Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash, the prosecutor in the case, is arguing that Routh’s claims of mental illness are not enough to prove he did not know right from wrong and meet the legal standard needed to prove an insanity defense.
On the video, as he is interviewed by Texas Ranger Danny Briley, Routh admitted several times that he understood that what he had done was wrong, according to a report by WFAA.
“You know what you did today is wrong, right?” asked Briley.
“Yes, sir,” he answered.
Routh also offered an apology to Kyle and Littlefield’s families, as reported by NBC News.
“I’m just sorry sorry for what I’ve done, you know, and we can work this out,” said Routh. “I guess I need to be doing more things in this town than hurting people.”
Multiple news reports mentioned that Routh was on anti-psychotic medication and admitted to smoking marijuana on the day of the killings.
Last week, jurors heard testimony from Texas Ranger Michael Adcock, who led the investigation at the crime scene. Adcock testified that both Kyle and Littlefield had been shot multiple times in the back, as Breitbart Texas reported. Both died at the scene. Jurors also heard emotional testimony from Kyle’s widow, Taya Kyle, who was in court again on Monday.
Kyle was a Navy SEAL and the most lethal sniper in American military history, serving four tours in Iraq. He received multiple commendations for his service before being honorably discharged from the Navy in 2009. A native Texan, Kyle was born in Odessa and returned to Texas after leaving the Navy. His memoir, American Sniper, was turned into a blockbuster film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper. To honor his life and service, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared February 2nd to be Chris Kyle Day, as Breitbart Texas reported.
Routh’s trial is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday morning. He is facing a sentence of life in prison without parole if he is convicted of capital murder. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty. Breitbart Texas will continue to follow this story.
Follow Sarah Rumpf on Twitter @rumpfshaker.
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