TV Appearances

Robert Bianchi appeared on Fox News, including Fox and Friends and America’s Newsroom, to provide legal analysis on high-profile cases including the murder of Chris Kyle, the decorated Navy SEAL portrayed in the film American Sniper.

Verdict: Eddie Ray Routh is Guilty

The jury found Eddie Ray Routh guilty of murdering Chris Kyle and another man, rejecting the defense’s argument that Routh was legally insane at the time of the killings. As predicted in earlier analyses, the jury reached a swift verdict—deliberating for only about two hours—after reviewing a mountain of compelling evidence that undermined the insanity claim.

Understanding the Insanity Defense

To succeed with an insanity defense, the defendant must prove a severe mental disease or defect that rendered them unable to distinguish right from wrong or appreciate the wrongfulness of their actions. This standard is consistent across many states, including New Jersey and Texas.

In this case, Routh’s defense centered on his diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They argued that PTSD qualified as a mental disease that impaired his judgment during the shooting.

Why the Insanity Defense Failed

Despite the PTSD diagnosis, multiple facts worked against the defense:

  • Post-crime behavior: Routh fled the scene, stopped for a drink, and evaded police—all actions demonstrating goal-directed behavior inconsistent with legal insanity.

  • Statements to police and family: Routh gave a detailed statement, sometimes incoherent, but also indicating awareness of his actions. He told relatives he knew what he did was wrong.

  • Video confession: He expressed regret and said he wanted to see his mother “for the last time,” suggesting he anticipated prison time and understood the gravity of his actions.

These behaviors strongly indicated that Routh understood both the nature and wrongfulness of his conduct, which is fatal to an insanity defense.

Will the Verdict Be Reversed?

Some have speculated that the verdict could be reversed due to pre-trial publicity, particularly since the trial coincided with the release of American Sniper. However, this is highly unlikely. Each juror was individually interviewed by the judge and affirmed they could remain impartial. As former prosecutors and defense attorneys with extensive experience in high-profile murder cases, we’ve seen courts consistently uphold verdicts where the jury was properly vetted and the evidence was overwhelming.

Appellate courts are unlikely to reverse the conviction unless there is more than speculation about media influence on the jury. Given the strength of the evidence and the fairness of jury selection, a reversal is improbable.

Final Thoughts

The Chris Kyle case underscores the challenges of proving an insanity defense in criminal court. Mental health issues like PTSD are serious and real, but the legal threshold for insanity is extremely high. Defendants must show they were so impaired that they did not know their actions were wrong—a bar that was not met in this case.

This verdict reflects a careful legal process and highlights how courts balance compassion for mental illness with accountability for criminal behavior.