OMM Redaksiyası
Caleb Flynn, a former contestant on “American Idol”, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his wife at their home in Ohio.
Flynn, 40, was convicted last week on all nine charges against him, including aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence, in connection with the death of Ashley Flynn.
The jury deliberated for about two hours before rejecting Flynn’s claim that an intruder had entered the couple’s home in Tipp City and shot his wife while she slept.
Prosecutors said Flynn, a former music pastor, shot his 37-year-old wife twice in the back of the head while she was in bed on February 16. They argued that he then staged the scene to suggest someone had entered through the garage.
During the trial, prosecutors said Flynn killed his wife so he could be with a woman with whom he was having an affair. They cited messages between the pair, including one Flynn sent the night before the killing: “I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow.”
The murder weapon was never recovered. Prosecutors also presented digital evidence that they said showed Flynn moving around the house at a time when he had claimed to be asleep. The couple’s daughters, aged 9 and 11, were in the house at the time.
At Monday’s sentencing hearing, letters from the children were read in court. They questioned why their father had killed their mother and urged him to admit his guilt.
“Dear Daddy, I don’t even know where to start. How could you do such a thing?” one daughter wrote.
Flynn apologised to his family for failing to honour his wedding vows and for decisions he said had caused them pain. He acknowledged lying about “many things” but continued to deny killing his wife.
His attorney said the defence plans to appeal the conviction. Flynn appeared briefly on “American Idol” in 2013 but did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood.
