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Former Marine Cpl. Eddie Ray Routh stands during his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center in Stephenville Texas, on Tuesday.(Photo: Michael Ainsworth, The Dallas Morning News)
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Eddie Ray Routh, the former Marine and Iraq War vet struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, was found guilty of capital murder Tuesday night in the shooting deaths of American Sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield.
Routh stared straight ahead at the judge's bench as Judge Jason Cashon read the verdict. The jury of 10 women and two men took just over two hours to convict Routh, 27, in the murder of Kyle, 38, and Littlefield, 35, at an upscale shooting range near Fort Worth on Feb. 2, 2013.
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Immediately after the verdict was read, Cashon condemned Routh to life in prison in the Texas criminal justice system without possibility for parole. Routh could appeal the verdict.
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"The deep well of excuse-making for this defendant has to come to an end," Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash said in closing arguments Tuesday. "In cold blood, he gunned these two men down."
Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEAL and author of the book "American Sniper," holds a weapon April 6, 2012, in Midlothian, Texas. Kyle and his friend, Chad Littlefield, were fatally shot at a shooting range southwest of Fort Worth, Texas on Feb. 2, 2013. Former Marine Eddie Ray Routh, who came with them to the range, has been found guilty in the murders.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Paul Moseley, AP)
The verdict brings to a close a dramatic nine-day trial that included emotional testimony from Kyle's wife, Taya Kyle, and Judy Littlefield, Chad's mother, as well as graphic photos from the crime scene, revealing testimony from Routh's confession to police and details into his mental troubles after leaving the military.
After the verdict and sentencing, Jerry Richardson, Littlefield's stepbrother, read a statement directed at Routh.
"Because of you and your irresponsible choices, we lost a great son, brother, father, husband and uncle," Richardson said in a voice quivering with emotion. "Your inhumanity and disregard for life have put you in a world [from which] you'll never escape."
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A judge did not permit testimony at the murder trial of Eddie Ray Routh to be broadcast until the jury reached a verdict. Jim Douglas has the highlights we could not share with you until now. Jim Douglas / WFAA
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