Appeal denied in capital murder case of Eddie Ray Routh

920x920-1 — Eddie Ray Routh enters the courtroom following a break in his capital murder trial at the Erath County, Donald R. Jones Justice Center in Stephenville, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. Routh, of Lancaster, is charged with the 2013 deaths of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range near Glen Rose. || Mike Stone, AP

FLASH TODAY STAFF REPORT

ERATH COUNTY (June 20, 2017) – Following the announcement of guilty in March 2015, attorneys for Eddie Ray Routh have said they would appeal his case and sentencing.

However, on Monday, June 19, the Eleventh Court of Appeals once again upheld the capital murder conviction of Routh in the shooting deaths of Chad Littlefield and his friend, American Sniper Chris Kyle, at the shooting range at Rough Creek Lodge on February 2, 2013. His trial brought major national media attention to Erath County for most of February 2015.

Routh’s trial defense worked on convincing an Erath County jury he was insane at the time of the murders and couldn’t tell the difference between right and wrong. Both Routh’s sanity and the definition of wrong were highly debated during the trial. However, Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash and Assistant State’s Attorney General Jane Starnes were able to convince the jury Routh understood and was attempting to take advantage of the system.

In a statement released to Erath County officials, Appellate Court Clerk Sherry Williamson said as of June 19, 2017, the court was issuing a mandate directing the trial court (Erath County 266th District Court) to uphold the conviction.

According to documents received by Erath County, the Eleventh Court of Appeals has “inspected the record in this cause and concludes that there is no error in the judgement. Therefore, in accordance with this court’s opinion, the judgement of the trial is in all things affirmed and to be carried out.” The trial sheriff is to notify both the local court clerk, Wanda Pringle, and the Appellate Court Clerk, Sherry Williamson when the when the mandate has been carried out.

In overruling complaints about the sufficiency of evidence presented at trial relating to Routh’s defense of insanity, and his complaints about procedures followed in the trial, the Court of Appeals set out in detail the evidence the jury could have relied upon in finding Routh guilty of the double murder and rejecting his insanity defense.

Routh’s attorneys can still appeal the case to the Supreme Court by filing another appeal in Austin, however, local county officials say they do not know if that will happen.

Below are the documents sent from the Eleventh Court of Appeals in Eastland County: