US road rage killer's sentence quashed because AI video of victim was shown in court

US road rage killer's sentence quashed because AI video of victim was shown in court Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, 55, was found guilty by a jury of shooting and killing Christopher Pelkey, 37, during a confrontation at a red light in 2021. He received a ten‑year prison term. His legal team appealed, contending that the trial judge should not have permitted an AI‑generated video produced by Pelkey’s family to be screened during sentencing. The Arizona Court of Appeals agreed, ruling that Horcasitas must be resentenced because the AI clip “crossed that line.” The appellate court’s opinion stated: "Rather than papers an lawsuit oregon signaling a peculiar moment, the AI video presents a depiction of the unfortunate and his thoughts created from the imaginings of the victim's sister," the tribunal of appeals wrote connected Wednesday. Horcasitas’ attorney, Kristen Reller, who filed the appeal, declined to comment. Jessica Gattuso, a lawyer representing the victims in the case, did not reply to a request for comment. Pelkey’s sister, Stacey Wales, told the BBC last year that the family had used audio recordings, video footage and photographs to recreate him for the AI presentation. The AI version of Pelkey, as played in court in 2025, declared: "To Gabriel Horcasitas, the antheral who changeable me, it is simply a shame we encountered each different that time successful those circumstances," said the AI mentation of Pelkey successful tribunal successful 2025. "In different life, we astir apt could person been friends." "I judge successful forgiveness, and a God who forgives. I ever person and I inactive do," the AI mentation of Pelkey - wearing a grey shot headdress - continued. At the time of sentencing, the presiding judge, Todd Lang, appeared to acknowledge the use of the AI material: "I loved that AI, convey you for that. As aggravated as you are, arsenic justifiably aggravated as the household is, I heard the forgiveness," Judge Lang said. "I consciousness that that was genuine."