AI Resurrection: Victim Forgives Killer in Courtroom Video

Chandler, Arizona – Christopher Pelkey, a man shot dead in a road rage incident nearly four years ago, appeared in an Arizona courtroom on Monday through an artificial intelligence recreation. The AI video was played by his family, allowing Pelkey to forgive his killer, Gabriel Horcasitas, from beyond the grave.

The incident took place in 2021 when Horcasitas, 50, shot Pelkey, 37, during a dispute. On Monday, the AI version of Pelkey addressed the court, stating, “To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances. In another life, we probably could have been friends.”

Pelkey’s digital likeness wore a gray baseball cap, an olive green hoodie, and had a full beard. Although the synchronization of his mouth and the spoken words was imperfect, the video left a significant impact on the courtroom audience.

Judge Todd Lang expressed his emotional response to the AI presentation, stating, “I love that AI,” before sentencing Horcasitas to 10-and-a-half years, a full year more than the prosecution sought.

The video also included a digitally aged photograph of Pelkey, with the AI version saying, “This is the best I can ever give you of what I would have looked like if I got the chance to grow old. Remember, getting old is a gift that not everybody has, so embrace it and stop worrying about those wrinkles.”

Stacey Wales, Pelkey’s sister, wrote the script for the AI’s message. She wanted to ensure her brother had a voice in his own manslaughter case. “I said, ‘I have to let him speak,’” she told AZ Family. “If one person hears his name or sees this footage and goes to his Facebook page or looks him up on YouTube, they will hear Chris’s love.”

Arizona Chief Justice Ann Timmer acknowledged the benefits of AI in the courtroom but expressed concerns about its potential negative impacts. “AI can also hinder or even upend justice if inappropriately used,” she stated, adding that the court has formed an AI committee to discuss its proper application.