Chris Pelkey was shot dead in a highway rage incident. During the killer’s sentencing, he forgave the man through AI.
In Arizona and the historic first Americans, artificial intelligence has been used in court to murder victims and issue its own victim impact statement.
what happened
Perki, A 37-year-old Army veteranwas shot dead in 2021. Gabriel Horcasitas.
“In another kind of life, we might be friends,” said Ai Pelkey in the video. “I believe that forgiveness is the forgiveness God.”
Pelkey’s family recreated him using AI that has received personal videos, pictures and dubbing recordings. His sister, Stacey Wales, wrote his “issued” statement.
“I have to let him speak,” she told Azfamili. “Everyone who knows him says it captures his spirit.”
This marks the first known use of AI in Arizona and in the country’s victim impact statements, raising urgent questions about ethics and authenticity in courts.
Judge Todd Lang praised the effort, saying it reflects real forgiveness. He sentenced Horcasitas to 10.5 years in prison, exceeding the state’s requirement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unjpvjjt5rm
Legal gray area
It is not clear whether a company needs a special license to display AI videos. Experts say courts will now need to work on proper procedures for such technologies.
“In this case, value exceeds the influence of bias,” said Gary Marchant, a law professor at Arizona State University. “But how to draw a line in future situations?”
For example, courts in Arizona are already trying AI, such as summarizing the Supreme Court’s ruling. Now, the same technology is entering emotionally high-risk programs.
this American Judicial Conference The use of AI in trials is being reviewed to adjust how evidence generated by AI is evaluated.
AI voices the murder victims, giving the legal system a glimpse into its future. The question now is: Should it be the standard, or should it remain the rare exception?
Will you believe that AI represents the person you love?
