Trial in Killing of Chris Kyle, ‘American Sniper’ Model, Sets Town on Edge

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/10/u...column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

STEPHENVILLE, Tex. — The trial of the man charged with killing Chris Kyle, a former sniper for the Navy SEALs, is scheduled to open here on Wednesday at 9 a.m. The blockbuster war movie about Mr. Kyle, “American Sniper,” now playing at Cinemark Cinema 6 three miles from the courtroom, will be showing at 3:40 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10:20 p.m.

The convergence of the movie, the trial and the fierce emotions both have stirred up have set this rural town 100 miles southwest of Dallas on edge, as legal experts have questioned whether Eddie Ray Routh, 27, the mentally ill veteran accused of killing Mr. Kyle and Mr. Kyle’s friend at a shooting range in Stephenville’s Erath County in 2013, can receive a fair trial here.

The defense wanted a change of venue but, there really no place where the majority of people haven't seen the movie or know the story.

Plus there are questions about whether this guy ha PTSD or ever served in combat.

I dont believe there's any doubt of his guilt, he's confessed. It's about the actual charge and his sentence.

Nothing demonstrates more the damage that an unnecessary war has done to the individuals sent there...and those that remained here. We have suicides, domestic abuse and murders by veterans here in WA near joint-base Lewis-McCord all the time. What a sad waste.

I personally believe anyone should die for a double murder of any sort but, they're not seeking it.

Lursa said:

I dont believe there's any doubt of his guilt, he's confessed. It's about the actual charge and his sentence.

Nothing demonstrates more the damage that an unnecessary war has done to the individuals sent there...and those that remained here. We have suicides, domestic abuse and murders by veterans here in WA near joint-base Lewis-McCord all the time. What a sad waste.

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Like most things fedgov, the VA sucks.

The question of the trial is whether he was insane at the time to the standards of law.

There was no apparent motive nor any personal benefit, no past interactions and nothing pointing to any normal causes of murder. There also appears quite a bit of prior indications of severe mental disorders. An insanity defense may well be valid.

Lursa said:

I dont believe there's any doubt of his guilt, he's confessed. It's about the actual charge and his sentence.

Nothing demonstrates more the damage that an unnecessary war has done to the individuals sent there...and those that remained here. We have suicides, domestic abuse and murders by veterans here in WA near joint-base Lewis-McCord all the time. What a sad waste.

Click to expand...

War is a scourge, unnecessary, and predictably bad, but get out of the way, At DP, it's manly, and a touch down.

WCH said:

I personally believe anyone should die for a double murder of any sort but, they're not seeking it.

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But didn't the murdered murder? Oh wait, he had a uniform and a special liscense.