Redo You

In a landmark moment for the U.S. legal system, artificial intelligence was utilised to allow a deceased victim to address his killer during sentencing. Christopher Pelkey, a 37-year-old Army veteran fatally shot in a 2021 road rage incident in Chandler, Arizona, was virtually brought back to deliver a victim impact statement through an AI-generated video.

The initiative was led by Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, who collaborated with her husband and a family friend, all possessing technical expertise, to create the digital likeness. They used existing photos and audio recordings of Pelkey to reconstruct his voice and appearance. In the video, Pelkey’s AI avatar expressed forgiveness towards his killer, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, stating, “It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances. In another life, we probably could have been friends.”

The AI-generated statement was presented during the May 1, 2025, sentencing in Maricopa County Superior Court. Although the video was not entered as evidence, it had a profound emotional impact on those present, including Judge Todd Lang, who remarked on the authenticity of the forgiveness conveyed. Consequently, Horcasitas received a 10.5-year prison sentence, exceeding the prosecution’s recommendation.

This unprecedented use of AI in a courtroom setting has sparked discussions about the ethical implications and potential future applications of such technology in the justice system. Legal experts caution that while AI can provide powerful tools for storytelling and emotional expression, it also raises concerns about authenticity and the potential for manipulation.