In a first-of-its-kind courtroom demonstration, the family of Christopher Pelkey used artificial intelligence programs to recreate Pelkey’s likeness and voice. The 37-year-old Army vet was most unfortunately shot and killed during a senseless act of road rage in Chandler, Arizona, in 2021. Pelkey used cutting-edge virtual reality technology to face down his murderer – Gabriel Paul Horcasitas – in the sentencing phase. This was an unprecedented moment for our judicial system.
Christopher Pelkey’s tragic death prompted his family to seek a powerful way to communicate the magnitude of their loss to the court. They pivoted to using the AI technology, which allowed them to quickly create a video with a realistic model of Pelkey. At Horcasitas’s sentencing, as part of that plea, he was sentenced to 10.5 years for the manslaughter charge. This decision went beyond the prosecutors’ recommended 9.5-year sentence.
The tragedy that took Pelkey’s life played out in 2021 when a road rage dispute turned deadly. Following the tragedy, his family aimed to ensure that Pelkey’s voice would be heard in the courtroom, despite his absence. That video, produced entirely by artificial intelligence, ensured his influence was felt throughout the sentencing process. It developed a passion point for all the stakeholders.
Much of what Pelkey said in that video struck a real chord with the court.
“I believe in forgiveness.” – AI-generated version of Christopher Pelkey
He even delivered an incredibly touching message on all the potential he lost, 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.” – AI-generated version of Christopher Pelkey
The rollout of this technology has already spurred debates across Arizona’s judicial branch about whether the technology should be used at all in courtrooms. As Chief Justice Ann Timmer reflected on AI’s double-edged sword, highlighting the need for diligence.
“AI has the potential to create great efficiencies in the justice system and may assist those unschooled in the law to better present their positions. For that reason, we are excited about AI’s potential. But AI can also hinder or even upend justice if inappropriately used. A measured approach is best.” – Chief Justice Ann Timmer
The Pelkey family’s initiative not only offered a means to confront their loved one’s killer but highlighted the evolving intersection of technology and justice. Courts are just beginning to understand how to best incorporate AI into legal proceedings. Whether that happens depends on whether this case sets a precedent on how future applications will be handled.
