Days after the two-year anniversary of the death of “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, the trial for his alleged killer has officially begun.
According to the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, Eddie Routh appeared in court on Thursday for the jury selection in the 266th Judicial District Court.
Combing through 800 potential jurors, Erath County will trim that down to an eventual 12, with two alternates according to the same report. On Thursday Routh entered court where potential jurors were seated. Routh is expected to plea ‘insanity’ for his alleged crimes.
A much different looking Eddie Routh in court for murder trial. Details on what it will take to pick a jury @CBS11. pic.twitter.com/3vBIKIesUG
— Arezow Doost (@CBS11Arezow) February 5, 2015
Kyle’s story became a worldwide phenomenon with the release of his autobiography “American Sniper” published in January 2012, and the recently released feature film starring Bradley Cooper.
Given how high-profile Kyle was, finding a “non-biased” team of jurors will be a monumental task for the county’s district court. Erath has a population of 40,000, but will be eyed by millions across the country in the coming weeks.
“Officials hope to have a jury selected by next Tuesday with opening arguments set to begin on Wednesday, Feb. 11.,” the Empire-Tribune reports.
Routh, a former U.S. Marine reportedly suffering from PTSD, was one of two veterans that Kyle took to a shooting range on Feb. 2. 2013. There were no witnesses of the incident, according to a CNN report. Routh was charged with the murders of both Kyle and Chad Littlefield and has been in an Erath County jail with a $3 million bond since that day.