Army vet killed in road rage incident 'forgives' his killer from beyond the grave during sentencing hearing

A man who died after being killed in a road rage incident 'addressed' his killer in court in an AI-generated video.

Army veteran Christopher Pelkey from Arizona was shot and killed following a road rage incident that turned deadly back in 2021.

Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, and her husband used artificial intelligence to allow the army vet to speak in the court room and provide a victim statement.

The pair used the technology to recreate his image and voice likeness, while also adding a filter to make him appear slightly older.

The shooter involved in the incident, Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, was convicted for manslaughter and will serve 10.5 years in prison and the judge even referred to the AI video in his closing sentencing statement.

Pelkey’s family believe that the judge was moved by the brief AI video that ‘forgave’ Horcasitas and suggested the men could have been friends under different circumstances.

In the video, the AI generated Chris forgave the shooter for his actions and was scripted by his sister.

It said: “It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances, in another life we probably could have been friends.

“I believe in forgiveness and God who forgives, I always have and still do.”

Explaining the decision to use AI for her younger brother to give a victim statement, his sister held up a picture of him and said: “Trying to make this come to life and to lift him off the page in the best way that we could, that is available to us now.

“All I kept coming back to was, ‘what would Chris say?’”

She also noted how the children in her family reacted positively to being able to see and hear from ‘Chris’ one last time.

Christopher's sister defended the use of AI and said her children thanked her (ABC 15)

She added: “[They said] ‘Mum and dad thank you so much for making that, I needed to hear from Uncle Chris one last time and that meant so much, thank you.’

“That is not what this is not what this intended to do but the result of having it be a healing peace for anybody that saw it was such a beneficial result.”

Chief Justice Timmer also issued a statement reflecting on the future uses of AI in the legal system.

She said: “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.”