Dead man testifies in court with AI avatar made by his sister

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At the sentencing for the individual who had been involved in a deadly road rage altercation, the victim spoke up, leaving the judge both astounded and awestruck.

404Media reports that Christopher Pelkey passed away in the year 2021 as a result of a road rage altercation. The individual responsible for his death, Gabriel Horcasitas, faced trial in March 2025 and was subsequently sentenced in May.

In connection with the sentencing, various testimonials were submitted by Pelkey’s loved ones detailing the long-term effects of his passing on their lives. Additionally, the judge in Arizona acknowledged a statement crafted by an AI program, which represented a fictional account from Pelkey himself.

The AI avatar‘s video clips along with the judge’s responses were swiftly shared on YouTube, garnering over 50,000 views within a few days after posting.

AI of murdered man makes court statement

The video outlines different aspects of Pelkey’s life and extends a posthumous message of forgiveness to his killer.

The video covers various stages of Pelkey’s life and conveys a message of forgiveness, addressed to the man who took his life after his passing.

Greetings! To make things clear for everyone, I’m an AI-generated version of Chris Pelkey, using his photo and voice profile. I’ve been digitally recreated to interact with you today. Let me share some information about the real Chris Pelkey.

To Gabriel Horcasitas, the individual who injured me, it’s regrettable that our paths crossed under such unfavorable conditions on that day. Under different circumstances, perhaps we could have developed a friendship. I am a believer in compassion and a higher power that extends forgiveness. And I remain so today.

Stacey Wales, Pelkey’s sister, posted a video on YouTube. This wasn’t a one-off event, as she additionally uploaded videos showcasing the judge’s response towards the AI-created avatar and its courtroom statement.

In simpler terms, “Judge Todd Lange expressed that he appreciated the AI, thankful for it. Even though he understood both the judge’s frustration and the family’s right to be angry, he heard forgiveness in the situation, which Mr. Horcasitas would have also valued, and so did he.

I’ve always addressed people by their last names, and that includes Christopher, whom I refer to as such. However, today, it feels more natural to call him Christopher, given our growing familiarity. His act of forgiveness toward Mr. Horcasitas mirrors the character traits I’ve heard about him, making this gesture seem genuine indeed.

The situation also sheds light on your family dynamics, given that you expressed your anger so intensely and requested the harshest punishment. However, despite this, you granted Chris an opportunity to express himself honestly, which shows a degree of understanding and compassion towards his feelings. It’s worth noting that I didn’t hear him asking for the maximum sentence.

It’s not a new phenomenon; on several occasions, individuals have endeavored to employ artificial intelligence in the courtroom setting. For instance, in April, an attempt by an individual to utilize an AI avatar in the New York Supreme Court was halted promptly when the judge called out from across the room to make it cease its operations.

Based on the account of the attorney involved with the Pelkey family’s case, Jessica Gattuso, it was the specific laws in Arizona that enabled the production of the AI-generated statement.

[The victims] are free to choose how they want to deliver their statements, and since I didn’t encounter any problems with the AI, and no one seemed to have any concerns about it, I can confirm that everyone was satisfied with its performance,” she stated.

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2025-05-08 23:23