A Texas jury has found Eddie Ray Routh guilty of murder in the killings of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle and Kyle’s friend, Chad Littlefield.
The jury announced its verdict at around 9:20 p.m. local time (10:20 p.m. E.T.) at a Stephenville courthouse. They were given the case at 6:36 p.m. local time (7:36 p.m. E.T.).
Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, and Routh was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.
“We just want to say that we’ve waited two years for God to get justice for us on behalf of our son and as always God has proved to be faithful, and we’re so thrilled that we have the verdict that we have tonight,” Littlefield’s mother, Judy Littlefield, told reporters after the verdict was read.
Routh, 27, admitted to killing both men at the shooting range of Rough Creek Lodge and Resort, southwest of Dallas, on Feb. 2, 2013.
Routh pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to capital murder. His attorneys have said Routh, a former Marine corporal who served in Iraq but not in a combat role, was in the grip of a medically diagnosed psychosis at the time of the killings.
Prosecutors said that Routh was drinking and smoking marijuana on the morning of the crime. They argued that he was paranoid because he was high, and that he was angry about living with his parents, relationship problems, money and his job — then exploded after he believed.
