Arizona Court Sees First AI-Generated Victim Testimony
On May 1 in Maricopa County Superior Court, an AI-created avatar of Christopher Pelkey, a U.S. Army veteran killed in a 2021 road-rage incident, delivered a message to his killer, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas. As Horcasitas faced sentencing for manslaughter and endangerment, the courtroom witnessed a novel use of generative AI in the legal system.
Pelkey’s family produced the video, featuring an avatar in a green sweatshirt and long beard against a white backdrop. At the start, the AI-version of Pelkey warns it is a simulation, noticeable in slight lip-sync gaps. “It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” the avatar says. “In another life, we probably could have been friends.”
Rather than hard evidence, the video was presented as a personal statement. With Horcasitas ultimately sentenced to 10½ years in state prison, Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, explained she turned to AI after struggling to capture years of grief and pain. She scripted the message, saying her brother’s perspective would be more understanding than her own.
“The goal was to humanize Chris, to reach the judge, and let him know his impact on this world and that he existed,” Wales told Reuters. Working with tech-savvy relatives and a family friend, she embraced generative AI as “just another avenue that you can use to reach somebody.”
Legal experts warn this landmark case raises ethical questions for courts worldwide. Simulations that tap directly into emotion risk sidestepping natural skepticism—and blur the line between verified evidence and evocative storytelling. As generative AI tools gain traction across industries, courts from New York to New Delhi are watching closely.
The Arizona hearing marks a turning point in how technology and justice intersect. With generative AI poised to reshape courtroom narratives, judges, lawyers, and activists must grapple with its power to humanize—or to manipulate—the pursuit of truth.
Reference(s):
Family makes AI video of Arizona man addressing his killer in court
cgtn.com
