'American Sniper' murder trial puts focus on small town

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[h=4]'American Sniper' murder trial puts focus on small town[/h]STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The small Erath County town of Stephenville is bracing for the trial of the man accused of murdering decorated Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield. Defendant Eddie

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The small town of Stephenville, Texas is bracing for the trial of Eddie Ray Routh. He is accused of murdering decorated Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield. VPC


Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle was murdered on February 2, 2013.(Photo: Courtesy)


STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The small Erath County town of Stephenville is bracing for the trial of the man accused of murdering decorated Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield.

This Stephenville courtroom will be the focus of national attention for the trial of accused killer Eddie Ray Routh.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: WFAA)

Defendant Eddie Ray Routh's lawyers want the trial moved out of Stephenville because of publicity — especially with the buzz surrounding "American Sniper," the blockbuster film depicting Kyle's life in the military. Kyle wrote about his experiences in a best-selling book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, which became the basis of the movie.
District Judge Jason Cashon has not yet ruled on the motion to move the trial. He hopes to seat a jury by next week with trial scheduled to begin Feb. 11.
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Media from across the nation are expected to cover the trial, and some international outlets may also be on hand in the city of 18,000 located 64 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
On Monday, Judge Cashon issued guidelines that could limit media coverage. One video camera will be allowed to shoot the proceedings through a window, but — at this point — no audio recording will be allowed. He told staff Monday he may reconsider permitting microphones to accommodate the number of expected reporters.
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There will also be no phones or computers allowed inside the courtroom, which is in a small annex on the courthouse square.
Security will be tight. Some areas around the courthouse will be sealed off. Court officials say local, state and federal officers will provide security.
On Friday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declared Monday "Chris Kyle Day" in Texas to honor the late U.S. serviceman.
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Abbott made the announcement Friday while speaking to a Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention in Austin. Hundreds of veterans in a hotel ballroom greeted the news with a standing ovation.
Kyle and Littlefield were shot and killed at the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort near Stephenville on Feb. 2, 2013. Kyle and Littlefield had taken Routh to the shooting range for practice.
Routh had been taken to a mental hospital twice in the five months before the incident and was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Kyle did four tours in Iraq and is considered to be the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history.
Contributing: Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press
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