American Sniper is making headlines again, both at the Academy Awards this weekend and in the real-life courtroom drama unfolding in Texas. In the center of it all is Eddie Ray Routh, the alleged killer of Chris Kyle, the man whose life inspired the Oscar-nominated film.
Although the defense has been trying to build up a case for Routh by pleading insanity, experts and psychologists who have been brought in to testify have been saying that Routh is only faking.
The testimony of Dr. Randall Price was particularly damaging to the defense. The forensic psychologist said that Routh was too calculated and thoughtful in his plan to murder Kyle and his friend Chris Littlefield, that his not guilty by reason of insanity plea does not hold any water.
The defense was attempting to build up its case by presenting evidence of PTSD and even schizophrenia in Routh. In a video confession presented to the jury previously during the trial, Routh was seen babbling about flying pig assassins and cannibals who were trying to devour his soul.
However, Price did not buy it. "Individuals with schizophrenia don't have that much insight to what is going on," he said.
When asked during his taped confession if he knew what he was doing was wrong, Routh said yes. It was also revealed during the investigation that Routh was able to choose to kill the two veteran friends away from the gun range where they were shooting on Feb. 2, 2013 -- an indication that he was still able to think and plan on his own.
According to Price, rather than insanity, Routh was suffering from paranoia, irritability and depression because of the residual effects of mixing marijuana and alcohol.
In addition, Price also said that he discovered upon interviewing Routh and his prison roommate that he was a fan of Seinfeld. In one episode of that show, the character of Kramer said he was seeing pig-people everywhere who were being trained by the government -- most likely, in his opinion, adapting the storyline of the sitcom, as well as using elements from Boss Hog, a character from the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, to serve as inspiration for Routh's schizophrenic ruse.
Another expert brought in to the trial agreed. Prosecutor Assistant Attorney General Jane Starnes even established a pattern in Routh's criminal behaviour: Using ramblings of pig-people to show how troubled he is right before and after committing a violent crime such as threatening the lives of people at a fish fry in a previous incident in September 2012, as well as threatening his girlfriend with a knife at her apartment in January 2013.
Whenever he commits a violent crime, Starnes pointed out, "police are called and he goes to the hospital" and not to jail.
Routh's defense rested its case on Feb. 19 without calling him to testify. The jury is expected to deliberate and submit a verdict after both sides present their closing arguments on Monday, Feb 23.
