Sentence tossed after man killed in 2021
The sentence was imposed on 55-year-old Horcasitas, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2021 killing of 37-year-old Pelkey. Authorities said Horcasitas shot Pelkey during a road-rage encounter at a Chandler stoplight.
Pelkey’s family created a video using his likeness, drawing on recordings, photos and videos, so he could appear to address the judge. It was reportedly a first-of-its-kind use of AI in a U.S. court.
The appeals court ruled the video was improper because it suggested the statements came directly from Pelkey and did not depict real events. The ruling vacated Horcasitas’ 10-year sentence.
Pelkey’s family has said it wants to keep sharing his voice through methods permitted by the court system. The article does not say what sentence Horcasitas may receive next.
The decision comes as courts increasingly use AI, though the article says its common applications have mainly involved administrative work, legal research and case preparation. It remains unclear whether the court or lawyers knew beforehand that the video would be shown.
Key points
- An appeals court set aside Horcasitas’ 10-year sentence over an AI-generated video used at sentencing.
- Pelkey’s family created the video to let him address the judge after his 2021 killing.
- The court said the video misrepresented statements as coming from Pelkey and did not show actual events.