() Arizona man Christopher Pelkey’s voice was taken from him forever when a man fatally shot him during a road rage incident in November 2021. But with the help of artificial intelligence and his family, the Army veteran left parting words for his killer.
“In another life we probably could have been friends,” a replica of Pelkey said in the AI-generated video played earlier this month in a Phoenix courtroom.
This victim recreation is believed to be the first time AI has been used for a victim impact statement during a trial. The statements are a chance for victims and families to say their peace, but sometimes the victims aren’t alive to do so.
“To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me, it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” the video said. “I believe in forgiveness and in God, who forgives. I always have and I still do.”
The victim’s sister, Stacey Wales, said she struggled to find the right words to say in a victim impact statement, so she turned to AI.
“I turned to my husband one night and I asked him, I said, ‘Tim, I want you to help me have Chris make his own impact statement at sentencing next week. I know you can do it. I’ve seen your work,’” Wales told . “And he says, ‘Stacy, do you know what you’re asking me? This is my best friend.’”
The couple works in tech, and they had just a few days to come up with the 4 and a half-minute video using photos and voice recordings with the script of what they believed Pelkey would have said.
The result was realistic. The man charged with shooting Pelkey to death could be seen wiping away tears at the hearing.
Horcasitas, 54, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.
“I love that AI. Thank you for that,” Judge Todd Lang said at the hearing. “And as angry as you are, and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness, and I know Mr. Horcasitas could appreciate it, but so did I.”
Within hours of the hearing, the defense filed a notice to appeal, pointing to the impact AI may have had on the judge’s sentencing decision.
Although AI has been used before in legal research and preparing cases, using it to deliver a deceased person’s victim impact statement is unprecedented.
