We are spiraling down the hole Dept: Murder victim 'speaks' beyond the grave in AI generated video at sentencing

[marble falls]

Murder victim 'speaks' beyond the grave in AI generated video at sentencing

The judge said he was moved by the video before sentencing.
ByIvan Pereira
May 9, 2025, 11:58 AM

https://abcnews.go.com/US/murder-victim-speaks-grave-ai-generated-video-sentencing/story?id=121638079


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Prosecutors asked the judge for Horcasitas to be sentenced to nine and a half years in prison, but Judge Todd Lang ultimately issued a 10 and a half year sentence. Lang said he was moved by the AI-generated video.

"I loved that AI, thank you for that. As angry as you are, as justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness," the judge said during the sentencing. "I feel that that was genuine."

Horcasitas's attorney, Jason Lamm, told ABC News that he was not given advanced notice about the video. He argued in court that Pelkey was the one who instigated the road rage incident and what the judge heard was a "kinder, more gentle" version of Pelkey.

-snip-

He said he has filed a notice of appeal for his client and that the use of the AI-generated video will likely be one of the points of contention.

-snip-



Pelkey's sister told reporters the victim's friends and family "agreed this capture was a true representation of the spirit and soul of how Chris would have thought about his own sentencing as a murder victim."

What if the convicted wanted to dispute that AI with one of his own fact checking the victimAi?? This is an unnecessary disaster about to happen.

[harumph]

1. Yes, this was a preposterous exercise.

For reasons too numerous to describe. An AI simulation of a victim's statement - presented in court. I don't understand how this won't lead to a possible challenge. Does this introduce the concept that AI can serve as a proxy or agent (...posthumously!!)? This serves to fuel my misanthropic fantasies of moving to a very remote place and watching this country burn from afar.

[Ponietz]

2. The right to confront witnesses is the heart of the 6th Amendment

I read that jassack AI has a future crimes mode now.

[Ms. Toad]

3. This will be appealed -

And my guess is that he will win.

It is one thing to a live victim to use AI as part of their victim impact statement. (The justification for allowing it - there are no limits on how a presents their statement.) They can confirm the truth of what the AI presents. It is an entirely different thing to use AI to put imagined words in the mouth of sometime who can't challenge it.

[anciano]

4. An interesting event indeed ....

especially the subsequent comments by Arizona Chief Justice Timmer about the use of AI going forward.

[Solly Mack]

5. That's fucked up.

[dickthegrouch]

6. A scripted, ARTIFICIAL, third-party created artifact isn't de-facto hearsay?

The judge that accepted that should be given a taste of that medicine!

[Ilsa]

7. If it isn't actual video of the victim, I don't think it should be used. nt

[Meowmee]

8. Crazy...

Also that headline does not make sense...

[Tommy Carcetti]

9. Weird Black Mirror stuff.

Regardless of the underlying crime.