Trial Day 5

[gavel bangs] Full trial audio. Everything heard in court, no silences to skip.

And please have a seat. We're reconvening in case number 26-CR-88, State of Ohio versus Caleb C. Flynn. Sir, are you Caleb Flynn?

Yes, Your Honor.

All right. We're beginning our se- uh, sixth day of trial. Um, we broke yesterday afternoon, um, with the direct examination of Aaliyah Botner. Um, is the State ready to proceed with further questioning?

Yes, Your Honor.

Okay. Are there any pretrial matters we need to discuss before, um, I bring in the jury?

No, Your Honor.

Mr. Mulligan?

Uh, no, thank you.

All right. Ms. Hausner, please bring the jury.

Yes.

Is the witness... Where's the witness?

Uh, conference room.

Okay. Morning. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please have a seat. Welcome back. [paper rustling] [coughs] Once you get comfortable, if everybody would turn off their phones, completely off. [paper rustling] The counsel and the next witness, your undivided attention. Ms. Botner, if you'd like to come up to the witness stand. We're gonna put a microphone on you 'cause you're very soft-spoken. [clears throat] And Ms. Botner, I'll remind you, you're still under oath.

Come again, sorry?

You're still under oath.

Okay.

Mr., um, Watkins, if you'd like to further inquire with this witness.

Thank you, Your Honor. Good morning, Ms. Botner. Handing you what's been, uh, previously marked for identification purposes as State's, um, State's Exhibit 236. That's book twelve of thirty-four, please. Forty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy-one.

[clears throat] "Caleb said on May 14th, 2025, 'I'm sorry. I hate her too, and honestly, I'm so mad at myself for today. It's so freaking hard to be near you and not want to kiss or touch. But I just told you about that dream my dad had yesterday, and then today happens. I'm so freaking weak and a terrible person. I'm sorry.'"

Forty-three thousand two hundred and forty-eight.

Forty-three thousand three hundred forty-eight.

Forty-three thousand two hundred and forty-eight.

[clears throat] "Caleb said on May 16th, '25, 'I do care. When I was hurting yesterday, I didn't throw out statements like that, but I should be used to that by now. I'm sorry this sucks. I hate this and my life and this situation more than anything in the world. If I could literally kill her and not go to hell, I would do it in a heartbeat. That's how dark and hateful I feel. I didn't get a response from you while you were playing pickleball for almost three hours. I wasn't mad because I knew you were with people and you were busy. You get so angry with me when you don't get a response right away, or you don't get it the way you want it. You know that I'm with Ava and her friends. I'm not around Douche, and I stay away from her at all times. We did not plan this together. This is what Ava wanted, and Douche scheduled it. I just show up and play, but I'm sorry it hurts. I'm sorry more than anything.'"

When he said, "If I could literally kill her and not go to hell," who was he talking about?

Ashley.

The next message.

He said, "You have asked me to stop saying things about how you need another boyfriend or another man or what you can have with them. I'm asking you not to say things about