Testimony & Closing Arguments Conclude In 'American Sniper' Trial
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Update: After wrapping up three hours of late afternoon closing arguments, the jury has begun deliberations in the capital murder trial of former Marine Eddie Ray Routh, the man accused of fatally shooting and killing "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield.
There was no indication how long jurors would be asked to deliberate into the night.
STEPHENVILLE (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — "American Sniper" author Chris Kyle had no time to react when an ex-Marine opened fire on him at a shooting range two years ago, a forensics expert testified Tuesday.
"He absolutely never saw this coming... he definitely was not facing the shooter," Howard J. Ryan, a law enforcement veteran from New Jersey, said at the trial of Eddie Ray Routh. Ryan testified that Routh was only six or seven feet from his victims when he shot.
Testimony concluded Tuesday afternoon, with closing arguments following.
Routh is charged in the deaths of the famed Navy SEAL sniper and his friend, Chad Littlefield. The trial has drawn extra attention because of Kyle's memoir and the blockbuster movie it inspired.
Since prosecutors aren't seeking the death penalty, Routh would face an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder. His attorneys have mounted an insanity defense, arguing that he was psychotic at the time and didn't know right from wrong.
The final person to testify was defense rebuttal witness Dr. Mitchell Dunn, who had also testified earlier.
Dunn said he didn't believe Routh was intoxicated when Kyle and Littlefield were shot — Dunn said he thought Routh was psychotic at the time of the February 2, 2013, shooting, and he didn't think it was "marijuana-induced psychosis."
Previously, Dunn testified that Routh tested positive for marijuana use each time he was hospitalized for suicidal tendencies.
Ryan had testified about his analysis of the crime scene as a rebuttal witness for prosecutors. Ryan noted the six gunshot wounds on Kyle were all on the right side of his body, indicating that he had relatively no movement when shot.
In assessing the crime scene, Ryan said, he took Kyle's skills as a marksman into account.
Littlefield was shot seven times, including in the back and the top of the head. Ryan says that the gunshot wounds at various locations on his body indicate the shooter was moving at the time.
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An earlier expert testified that both Kyle and Littlefield had loaded guns in holsters in their waistbands, but it didn't appear they were ever able to even remove them from their holsters.
Ryan testified that Routh had positioned himself between Kyle and Littlefield when he shot them. He testified that Routh shot Littlefield twice in the back before shooting Kyle, who was on the grass in front of the gun range's deck. Littlefield was shot while on the deck behind Kyle.
Ryan said Kyle was likely facing away from Routh when he fired.
After Ryan testified, a call was played in court from May 2013 between Routh and a reporter for The New Yorker. Routh said he started shooting Kyle while Kyle was finishing a magazine.
In a call between Routh and a reporter for The New Yorker, Routh is asked by the reporter if he thinks about the day he shot the men.
"It tore my (expletive) heart out when I did it," Routh said, later adding, "I guess you live and you learn, you know."
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