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Defendant's Mother Testifies in “American Sniper” Murder Trial

State rests case against Eddie Routh as defense seeks mistrial

Eddie Routh’s mother testified in his defense Tuesday afternoon after the state rested its case in the "American Sniper" murder trial.

Jodi Routh told the Erath County jury her son developed mental health issues and returned a changed person after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps.

"He wasn’t his happy-go-lucky self like he had always been. A lot more serious, very concerned for his family," she said.

His mother said Eddie Routh was paranoid and required hospital treatment for post-traumatic stress in 2011.

“He was very suicidal,” she said.

The mother of the former Marine accused of killing “American Sniper” author Chris Kyle and another man testified Tuesday that she didn’t know after asking Kyle to help her troubled son that they’d be going to a shooting range.

Jodi Routh said her son was in and out of the Dallas VA Hospital and Green Oaks, a mental health facility. She said the VA released him on his latest stay before it should have.

“I objected and said he’s not ready,” she said.

Jodi Routh said she turned to "American Sniper" Chris Kyle for assistance after she heard the work he had done with other veterans. The mother said Kyle promised to do all he could to help Eddie Routh.

Twice on Tuesday the Eddie Ray Routh’s defense team asked for a mistrial because of evidence presented to the jury in the ‘American Sniper’ trial.

The day of the February 2013 crime, Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield had picked Eddie Routh up for an outing at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range, where the victims’ bodies were later found.

The defense began by calling two previously called law enforcement witnesses to admit as evidence guns left behind at crime scene.

Several long guns, including one labeled “American Sniper,” were displayed for the jury. The defense is building evidence to show why Eddie Routh could have had reason to be fearful of so many guns that day.

The jury in the Eddie Ray Routh “American Sniper” murder trial watched the taped confession and Routh apologizing for the crimes. Routh’s defense team claims he was insane at the time he killed Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield.

The final state evidence before prosecutors rested Tuesday was a jail telephone recording of Eddie Routh speaking with a reporter from The New Yorker magazine.

On the call, Eddie Routh complains about stopping at Whataburger on the way to the outing in Kyle’s truck and the smell of Littlefield’s cologne.

Eddie Routh plainly speaks about killing Littlefield first and then Kyle.

“I tried to shoot him, and he was just finishing a magazine when I shot him,” Eddie Routh said.

Asked by the reporter on the call if he was scared, Eddie Routh replied that he was.

“I had to kill them before they killed me,” Eddie Routh said.

Jason Upshaw, chief deputy for the Erath County Sheriff’s Department, said the county jail records all inmate telephone calls.

Upshaw said Eddie Routh’s mental and physical condition has changed substantially since he has been incarcerated in the jail with no access to alcohol or illegal drugs.

In jail, Upshaw said Eddie Routh has received only the medications that were already prescribed for him by the Veteran’s Administration prior to his incarceration.

Prosecutors have been building a case that Eddie Routh’s behavior at the time of the deadly shootings was influenced by alcohol, illegal drugs and Eddie Routh’s failure to follow his doctor’s instructions, rather than the insanity defense Eddie Routh’s lawyers claim now.

Tuesday morning, jurors also watched a Lancaster Police squad car video showing the defendant in the back seat after his arrest.

In the video, Eddie Routh becomes agitated when people appear at the car window but remains calm when alone in the car.

Officer Flavio Salazar recorded the video after taking Eddie Routh into custody Feb. 2, 2013, following a brief chase during which Eddie Routh drove Chris Kyle’s pickup truck.

On the recording, Salazar tells Eddie Routh that he is a Marine, too. Salazar said he hoped to help him relax.

The memorial for slain ex-Navy SEAL Chris Kyle drew in people from across the country at Cowboys Stadium on Monday.

Eddie Routh’s lawyers claim he was unable to tell right from wrong at the time of the crime.

The day began with a revelation from prosecutor Alan Nash of an evidence error.

Jurors were told earlier in the trial that drug paraphernalia seized from Eddie Routh’s home after his arrest included a vial that might be used to fill a hypodermic needle for injecting illegal drugs.

It turns out the vial was actually placed in the evidence kit at the Texas Department of Public Safety lab in Garland by technician Jennifer Rumppe who performed tests on the evidence. Rumppe testified Tuesday that the vial contains material that was to be supplied to Eddie Routh’s defense lawyers in case they wished to repeat the state tests.

Eddie Routh’s defense lawyers asked for a mistrial over the error, claiming the jury has been tainted by the mistake. The judge denied the motion. The jury was informed about the error and told to disregard the faulty evidence.

Amber Moss, a DNA expert for the Texas Department of Public Safety, also testified Tuesday about tests she performed. Moss said blood found on Eddie Routh’s boots matched the blood of victim Chad Littlefield.

A total of 26 state witnesses testified over five days in court.

The defense case could last into next week before the state gets the opportunity for rebuttal witnesses.

At the conclusion of the opening remarks, Judge Jason Cashon ordered all devices that could record or stream audio, or be used to report proceedings live, removed from the courtroom during the trial. Follow along with the trial as NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff, NBC's Jacob Rascon and The Dallas Morning News' Dianna Hunt and Tasha Tsiaperas tweet the latest updates from the overflow room outside of the courtroom. Their Twitter feeds can be seen below.
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