Jurors have tried to hold back laughter as an AI-generated love song was played during a US murder trial.
Former American Idol contestant and church leader Caleb Flynn, 40, is accused of killing his wife in what court prosecutors allege was part of a plot to be with his then-mistress, a 24-year-old woman from his congregation.
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His wife, Ashley Flynn, was shot dead in their bedroom, before Caleb called police to report that a suspected intruder had barged into their Ohio home on February 16.
His former mistress of a year-and-a-half, Alleigha Botner, testified in court last week that Caleb hated his wife, and read aloud his texts, including one that stated: “I was up until 4am last night crying, literally thinking of ways to kill her and not go to jail.”
The court was also played an AI-generated love song, which Caleb had written for Botner.
A courtroom camera captured jury members biting the inside of their cheeks and covering their mouths with their hands as they listened to the song, which has lyrics including: “Age never mattered, when it was you and me.”
Prosecutors have alleged there was also a financial motive for Caleb to kill Ashley, who had learned of her husband’s affair when she came across his texts to Botner during a cruise for their 15-year wedding anniversary in 2025.
Caleb said in his call to 911 after the alleged murder, at about 2.30am, that he had been lying in his daughters’ bedroom when he heard a gunshot.