American Sniper killer found GUILTY: Marine who shot dead Chris Kyle and his friend at Dallas gun range sentenced to life in prison, The former Marine who gunned down American Sniper Chris Kyle in cold blood will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of his murder.
Eddie Ray Routh, 27, looked on, emotionless, as a jury confirmed their verdict: that he had not been insane when he opened fire on the most famous U.S. serviceman in a generation, and was guilty of capital murder.
As prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty, the only possible sentence for Routh was life in prison - with no chance of parole.
The verdict, which took little more than two hours for jurors in Stephenville, Texas, to reach Tuesday night, came as interest in Kyle's career as the U.S. military's deadliest-ever sniper reached fever pitch.
Kyle's exploits in the Iraqi desert were showcased to tens of millions of Americans just days before, when American Sniper, the movie based on his bestselling autobiography, featured at the Oscars, where it was nominated for six awards.
Indeed, it was argued that such was the popularity of the movie, which grossed $300million at the box office, that Routh would never be able to get a fair trial on account of Kyle's skyrocketing fame.
Taya, Kyle's widow, was in court yesterday morning for the defence's closing statement, but was not present when the verdict and sentence were passed in quick succession.
She had earlier given a tearful testimony to the court.
When addressing the court she had clutched her late husband's dog tags in her hands - and also had them with her at the Academy Awards ceremony over the weekend.
Routh's murder sentence also covers the killing of Chad Littlefield, Kyle's friend and another veteran whom he killed seconds before Kyle.
A former Marine has been found guilty of murdering famed U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle at a gun range two years ago.Earlier in the case, the court had heard repeatedly how Routh turned on Kyle and Littlefield at a luxury gun range near Dallas, where they had taken him as a way to help him settle back into society after leaving the Marines.
Routh first opened fire on Littlefield, then turned on Kyle, whom he shot six times.
He later said he was 'riled up' because Littlefield wasn't joining in with the shooting, then murdered Kyle too because he knew he would kill him. Read More
Eddie Ray Routh, 27, looked on, emotionless, as a jury confirmed their verdict: that he had not been insane when he opened fire on the most famous U.S. serviceman in a generation, and was guilty of capital murder.
As prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty, the only possible sentence for Routh was life in prison - with no chance of parole.
The verdict, which took little more than two hours for jurors in Stephenville, Texas, to reach Tuesday night, came as interest in Kyle's career as the U.S. military's deadliest-ever sniper reached fever pitch.
Kyle's exploits in the Iraqi desert were showcased to tens of millions of Americans just days before, when American Sniper, the movie based on his bestselling autobiography, featured at the Oscars, where it was nominated for six awards.
Indeed, it was argued that such was the popularity of the movie, which grossed $300million at the box office, that Routh would never be able to get a fair trial on account of Kyle's skyrocketing fame.
Taya, Kyle's widow, was in court yesterday morning for the defence's closing statement, but was not present when the verdict and sentence were passed in quick succession.
She had earlier given a tearful testimony to the court.
When addressing the court she had clutched her late husband's dog tags in her hands - and also had them with her at the Academy Awards ceremony over the weekend.
Routh's murder sentence also covers the killing of Chad Littlefield, Kyle's friend and another veteran whom he killed seconds before Kyle.
A former Marine has been found guilty of murdering famed U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle at a gun range two years ago.Earlier in the case, the court had heard repeatedly how Routh turned on Kyle and Littlefield at a luxury gun range near Dallas, where they had taken him as a way to help him settle back into society after leaving the Marines.
Routh first opened fire on Littlefield, then turned on Kyle, whom he shot six times.
He later said he was 'riled up' because Littlefield wasn't joining in with the shooting, then murdered Kyle too because he knew he would kill him. Read More
