Caleb Flynn Rebuttal: Paul Watkins Says the Defense Missed WHAT?

Tony Brueski (0:00)

You're listening to continuing coverage in the trial of Caleb Flynn from the Hidden Killers podcast and True Crime Today. Now, back to the courtroom.

Judge (0:11)

At this time, would the state like to offer a rebuttal?

Paul Watkins (0:14)

Yes, Your Honor.

Paul Watkins (0:15)

Go ahead, Mr. Watkins.

Paul Watkins (0:28)

Ladies and gentlemen, you know the defendant's state of mind.

Paul Watkins (0:32)

You know his desires.

Paul Watkins (0:35)

His actions are why we're all here.

Judge (0:39)

The defendant executed action.

Paul Watkins (0:43)

That is supported by others.

Paul Watkins (0:48)

We have the defendant's intimate conversations with his mistress. Messages that both thought would never see the light of day.

Hidden messages.

Paul Watkins (0:59)

Defendant attempted to delete.

Paul Watkins (1:04)

You remember those two messages I first told you about?

Paul Watkins (1:07)

The ones with the defendant's claim of Ashley's murder and talking about how dark and how hateful he feels?

Paul Watkins (1:15)

I want to remind you of some more.

Paul Watkins (1:19)

I have been trying to think of some plan that will magically make all this better. Being honest, I don't have that yet.

Paul Watkins (1:30)

When she is gone, my goodness, it all changes. I want my girls full time and a life with you.

Paul Watkins (1:42)

But I can't have both.

Paul Watkins (1:45)

So I've weighed the options.

Paul Watkins (1:48)

And I choose you.

Paul Watkins (1:52)

He also tells us about his fears.

Paul Watkins (1:56)

Think what I'm willing to sacrifice.

Paul Watkins (1:59)

My daughters, a quarter million dollar salary, a place to live, possibly a church that I serve at, public shame and humiliation, and wait long.

Paul Watkins (2:17)

Now just hours before Ashley's execution, the defendant wrote this, Actions will come tomorrow.

Paul Watkins (2:27)

I'll never not be scared to do this, as I know it won't hurt my daughters.

Paul Watkins (2:34)

That will always be there.

Paul Watkins (2:37)

But this month away from you has terrified me beyond belief.

Paul Watkins (2:43)

You said you don't want me to regret anything.

Paul Watkins (2:45)

I'm living in regret as we speak.

Paul Watkins (2:48)

Losing you and hurting you has murdered me. I know the way I feel about you is beyond anything that's anywhere else.

Paul Watkins (3:00)

I know I can't live without you.

Paul Watkins (3:02)

And so again, if this gives me a 1% chance to spend my life with you, it's the 100% right decision. I choose you.

Paul Watkins (3:18)

I'm free. February 16th.

Paul Watkins (3:22)

Dead I'll never forget.

Paul Watkins (3:25)

During jury selection, we talked a lot about common sense.

Paul Watkins (3:29)

I'm asking all of you to use it today and after you walk through that door. The defendant wants your common sense to stay right here in this room.

Let's start at the beginning and work our way through this carefully.

Paul Watkins (3:45)

Because the evidence in this case did not begin with the gunshot.

Paul Watkins (3:49)

It began months earlier.

Paul Watkins (3:53)

Ashley was alive. She was full of light and joy.

Paul Watkins (4:00)

The defendant, he had a lady and he wanted out of his marriage.

Paul Watkins (4:06)

The evidence shows that his feelings toward Ashley went far beyond simply wanting a divorce.

Paul Watkins (4:12)

He hated her.

Paul Watkins (4:15)

She was his prison.

Paul Watkins (4:18)

The defendant called her the spawn of sin.

The communications between the defendant and Aliyah Govahirs, they document the developing romantic and sexual relationship, emotional dependency, financial exchanges, secrecy, and repeated discussions about the defendant leaving Ashley. As time went on, however, Ashley increasingly became the obstacle around which those conversations revolved.

Paul Watkins (4:53)

The defendant was obsessed with Aliyah.

Paul Watkins (4:57)

He created fake social media accounts to interact with her. He stalked her with snooper words.

Paul Watkins (5:04)

The exchange on average, almost 300 text messages a day.

Paul Watkins (5:10)

Just days after Ashley's death, Oswin was not searching Ashley's Instagram.

Paul Watkins (5:15)

He had a blog.

Paul Watkins (5:18)

He was instead searching Aliyah's.

Paul Watkins (5:21)

They share matching tattoos.

Paul Watkins (5:24)

Aliyah's is on her arm. The defendant's is in his armpit.

Paul Watkins (5:31)

By late 2025, the language in their messages had escalated. During the conflict surrounding the defendant and Ashley's 15-year anniversary cruise, Aliyah expressed jealousy about the defendant continuing to remain married, while he expressed increasing anger and hostility towards Ashley.

Paul Watkins (5:54)

Then came February 14th and 15th, 2026

Paul Watkins (5:59)

The defendant was no longer simply talking about someday leaving his marriage. The pressure he felt was too much.