American Sniper Chris Kyle’s alleged killer was ‘almost in a daze’ and allegedly confessed to the murders

The defendant’s sister took the stand on the defence’s first day of testimony

Eddie Ray Routh, pictured here in an undated police booking shot, is accused of killing sniper Kyle (Reuters)

The man accused of killing Chris Kyle was “almost in a daze” and confessed to a pair of murders, a jury was told Wednesday during the defence’s first day of testimony at the trial of Eddie Ray Routh.

Mr Routh, a former US Marine, has been charged with killing both Mr Kyle – the Navy SEAL featured in the film American Sniper — and his friend Chad Littlefield at a shooting range south of Fort Worth, Texas on 2 February, 2013.

Laura Blevins, Mr Routh’s sister, took the stand Wednesday and said that Mr Routh came to her house after the alleged incident and told her that he had killed two people, the Associated Press reported, allegedly referring to Mr Kyle and Mr Littlefield.

“He said he took their souls before they could take his. I asked him what he meant by that, and he said they were out to get him,” Ms Blevins said. “When I was looking at him, he kind of looked like he was out of it, almost in a daze or something, and when I told him that I loved him, there was something in him that understood that.”

Mr Kyle had been approached by Mr Routh’s mother who asked him to help her son, who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Mr Routh’s mother testified. Mr Kyle had worked with others struggling with PTSD and had taken others to the shooting range as a way to blow off steam.

Mr Routh allegedly shot Mr Kyle and Mr Littlefield at the range before allegedly stealing Mr Kyle’s truck and driving to Ms Blevins’ house. After he left her house, Ms Blevins called police and Mr Routh was later arrested.

The defence is trying to build a case for insanity, saying Mr Routh was in a fit of psychosis when he allegedly killed the two men. The prosecution is seeking a life sentence.

Follow Payton Guion on Twitter @PaytonGuion.