Court throws out killer’s sentence after judge said he ‘loved’ AI video of slain man
An appeals court vacated a killer's sentence because the judge was influenced by an AI video of the victim shown at sentencing.Summary
The Arizona Court of Appeals in Phoenix has vacated the 10½-year sentence of Gabriel Paul Horcasitas for the 2021 fatal shooting of Christopher Pelkey, 37, after a judge allowed an AI-generated video of the victim at the sentencing hearing. The video, created by Pelkey's sister Stacey Wales, depicted an AI version of Pelkey expressing forgiveness toward Horcasitas. Judge Todd Lang, who imposed the maximum sentence, said he "loved" the video and found it "genuine." The appeals court ruled that the AI video's consideration "so prejudiced Horcasitas as to render the sentencing procedure fundamentally unfair," and ordered a resentencing. The defense argued that the video denied due process, while the state claimed it was consistent with Pelkey's values. The court noted that the AI video "does not reflect actual events," presenting instead the sister's imaginings.
(Source：NBC News)