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State of Texas vs Eddie Ray Routh

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Submitted By brandia85
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State of Texas VS. Eddie Ray Routh
Kaplan University
Brandi Allen

PA260: Criminal Law
Prof: Monique Chiacchia
March 10, 2015

* Brief summary of the facts –
On February 2, 2013 in Erath county Texas Eddie Ray Routh shot and killed former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Kyle and Littlefield had taken Routh to an Erath county gun range to help him cope through some PTSD issues, and to show Routh support. Routh’s mother had requested Kyle spend some time with her son, so at the urging of Routh’s mother Kyle and Littlefield did.

* Explanations of the legal issues relevant to criminal law –

Routh pled not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense hired experts who testified that Routh suffers from schizophrenia and was in a psychotic state when he killed the 2 men. However expert’s hired by the prosecution said that Routh was faking the mental illness when he was arrested for the crime. Experts for the prosecution said that Routh was suffering from a cannabis-induced psychosis which means Routh cannot be found legally insane. Prosecutors also argued that Routh came up with countless excuses for killing the 2 men, none of which was cause by mental illness. Prosecutors argued that Routh’s behavior showed that he knew what he had did was wrong because immediately after the slayings of Kyle and Littlefield he (Routh) fled the scene in Kyles truck and stole Kyle’s Navy issued pistol as a trophy. Defense attorneys for Routh said that the prosecutions claim that Routh was suffering from a cannabis-induced psychosis was not back by any evidence. Investigators didn’t draw blood from Routh the night Routh was arrested for the killings.

* Analysis of the court's holding and reasoning
On February 24, 2015 jurors in Erath County Texas found Eddie Ray Routh guilty of capital murder in the shooting death of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield. Routh was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

* Analysis of how culture influenced the court's decision
Right before the trial of Eddie Routh began the movie “American Sniper” was released. “American Sniper” was a movie based on the life and autobiography of Chris Kyle also called “American Sniper”. I believe that it was in bad taste that this movie was released so close to the trial of Eddie Routh. It made it to where Routh couldn’t get a fair trial because all potential jurors could have possibly seen the movie and it would have given the juror a biased opinion of Routh. Because of this, his sentence and or entire case could get overturned and Routh could get another trial.

* Evaluation of the impact of this judicial ruling on the development of society and criminal law

I’m really surprised, with this case being in Texas that Routh didn’t face the death penalty. With it being a capital murder charge the prosecution had the option to seek the death penalty, but possiably because this case was such a high profile case, they were afraid that they would not win if they did seek the death penalty. I believe that had this case not had the attention of the national media and was not such as high profile as it was, Eddie Routh would have faced the death penalty.

Refrence’s

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com

www.time.com

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