The trial of former “American Idol” contestant Caleb Flynn took a dramatic turn as his former mistress, Alleigha Botner, walked jurors through thousands of messages exchanged between the pair.

Prosecutors said Flynn and Botner exchanged more than 107,000 messages during their relationship. Botner spent hours discussing the communications, including messages about Flynn’s marriage, their relationship and his repeated statements about Ashley.

Some of the messages contained deeply disturbing language about Ashley, including statements that prosecutors say demonstrate Flynn’s hostility toward his wife. Botner also acknowledged that she herself had made an alarming statement about Ashley in one exchange.

The messages exchanged shortly before Ashley’s d#ath became particularly important to prosecutors. Botner testified about conversations from the night of February 15 and early morning of February 16, when Flynn allegedly discussed being “free” and choosing Botner.

The prosecution argues that the messages help establish a possible motive and support its case against Flynn. The defense, however, has challenged that interpretation, emphasizing that disturbing messages and an affair do not by themselves prove that Flynn committed the crime.

Botner’s credibility also came under scrutiny. She acknowledged that she was not completely truthful during an earlier FBI interview and that she later searched online for information about unsolved homicides after Ashley’s d#ath.

Flynn has pleaded not guilty. The jury must ultimately determine whether the evidence presented by prosecutors proves the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: WLWT, CBS News, Court TV