'American Sniper' Trial: New Footage Shows Disturbing Messages From Man Who Murdered Navy SEAL Chris Kyle [VIDEO]
As American Sniper nears the Oscars this week, the real-life trial against the man who murdered Chris Kyle is still underway.
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On Monday the Texas court played a police video which showed the accused, Eddie Ray Routh, raving about the two men he killed. According to People on Tuesday, the footage showed 27-year-old Routh referring to Chad Littlefield and Chris Kyle as "head hunters" when he was arrested for the crime in 2013.
"I knew if I didn't take his soul, he was gonna take my soul next, or one of his gangsters was gonna take out one of my souls," claimed Routh who rambled extensively during his initial interrogation.
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"I just can't keep eating my soul like this. I just can't," declared Routh. "I just wish the world wasn't such a soulless place."
Routh even told police that he had intended to kill someone that day all along. "I told her I had to kill a man today," Routh said, referring to his sister Laura. "It wasn't a want to, it was a need to. I had to get out of that situation today."
Portrayed by Bradley Cooper in the Clint Eastwood film, Kyle was a decorated Navy SEAL who worked with veterans to help them to reestablish themselves in civilian life. On Feb. 2, 2013 Kyle and Littlefield took Routh hunting at the request of Routh's mother, who claimed that her son needed help. During the afternoon outing Routh turned his gun on Kyle and Littlefield, killing both men.
Recovery of data from both Kyle and Littlefield's phones show that both men were concerned about Routh's stability when they took him out that day, though neither decided to call off the trip.
Routh's trial began on Feb. 11 after he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. His lawyers believe that the film could impact the verdict in this case, though their request to have the trial postponed or transferred out of Kyle's home county were denied.
Kyle's multiple deployments overseas as a Navy SEAL were recorded in his 2012 memoir, which served as the basis for the film American Sniper.