AI video of dead road rage victim ‘forgives' killer in Arizona courtroom
A man who was shot dead three years ago in a road rage incident appeared — sort of — at his killer's sentencing with a message from beyond the grave, all thanks to AI.
Chris Pelkey, a lifelong resident of Upstate New York, was gunned down in 2021 at age 37 in Chandler, Ariz. At a state courthouse on Thursday, a digitally regenerated version of Pelkey spoke to the man who took his life.
'To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me, it is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances. In another life we probably could have been friends,' AI Pelkey says.
'I believe in forgiveness and a God who forgives. I always have, and I still do,' Pelkey added.
Pelkey was a devout Christian and a decorated army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. Horcasitas shot Pelkey at a red light after Pelkey left his vehicle and walked towards Horcasitas' car.
Story continues below advertisement
The digital regeneration used Pelkey's voice profile to emulate his tone and video recordings to mimic his physical appearance, including his distinct beard.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
The idea to present an AI-generated victim statement from Pelkey was brought to fruition by Pelkey's sister, Stacey Wales, after she collected dozens of impact statements for the trial, she told local news outlet ABC-15.
'All I kept coming back to was, 'What would Chris say?'' Wales said, who described her brother's digital resurrection as a 'Frankenstein of love' to local outlet Fox 10.
As AI permeates everyday life, U.S. lawmakers are beginning to gather information on its potential application in the courtroom and will soon seek public comment on its use as evidence at trial to determine how best to regulate its potential introduction.
Story continues below advertisement
On Friday in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Judicial Conference's Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules voted 8-1 in favour of seeking public comment on a draft rule designed to ensure evidence produced by generative AI technology meets the same reliability standards as evidence from a human expert witness.
According to The Guardian, Judge Todd Lang was receptive to the use of AI during the proceeding.
'I loved that AI, thank you for that. As angry as you are, as justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness,' Lang remarked. 'I feel that that was genuine.'
Pelkey's brother, John, also supported using AI in Pelkey's case. He said that upon seeing his brother's face, he felt 'waves of healing,' adding that he is certain his brother would have forgiven the man who killed him.
'That was the man I knew,' John said.
Horcasitas was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison on manslaughter charges.
— With files from Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Police seize over $1M in items, dozens of guns in southern Ontario raids
Police in Barrie, Ont., and Simcoe County say they recovered over $1 million in property including several dozen guns as part of a recent fraud investigation. They say a months-long investigation into a man and woman who were passing bad cheques and bank drafts led them to raid a number of properties located in Toronto, King City, Havelock and Springwater Township. As a result of the searches, police say officers seized personal watercraft, a pontoon boat, construction equipment and high-end watches which all came through use of fraudulent cheques and bank drafts. Officers also seized three motor vehicles, a large amount of Canadian currency and 45 firearms, 35 of which came from a home in Toronto. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In total, police estimated the seized items to be worth more than $1 million. Story continues below advertisement Two individuals are facing multiple charges related to a wide-reaching investigation into vehicle thefts through the use of fraudulent cheques and bank drafts across Ontario… For additional details, please see: @BarriePolice — Barrie Police (@BarriePolice) June 11, 2025 Police say a 26-year-old, Olivia Osborne of Toronto, and 32-year-old Farshid Ayon from Springwater Township are facing a number of charges including theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5000, motor vehicle theft, fraud over $5000, uttering forged document, identity theft and identity fraud. The charges are said to have stemmed from incidents in Barrie, Oro-Medonte Township and Prince Edward County, but police in Barrie say the duo may have been operating in a number of other locations throughout southern Ontario as well. 'If any member of the public is a victim of these conspiring fraudsters, you are strongly encouraged to contact your local police service,' a release from police said.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Consultant on trial for AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden says he has no regrets
LACONIA, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant told a New Hampshire jury Wednesday that he doesn't regret sending voters robocalls that used artificial intelligence to mimic former President Joe Biden and that he's confident he didn't break the law. Steven Kramer, 56, of New Orleans, has long admitted to orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before New Hampshire's Jan. 23, 2024, presidential primary. Recipients heard an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his catchphrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and, as prosecutors allege, suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November. 'It's important that you save your vote for the November election,' voters were told. 'Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.' Kramer, who faces decades in prison if convicted of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, said his goal was to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician $150 to create the recording. He was getting frequent calls from people using AI in campaigns, and, worried about the lack of regulations, made it his New Year's resolution to take action. 'This is going to be my one good deed this year,' he recalled while testifying in Belknap County Superior Court. He said his goal wasn't to influence an election, because he didn't consider the primary a real election. At Biden's request, the Democratic National Committee dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional early spot in the 2024 nominating calendar but later dropped its threat not to seat the state's national convention delegates. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there but won as a write-in. Kramer, who owns a firm specializing in get-out-the-vote projects, argued that the primary was a meaningless straw poll unsanctioned by the DNC. At the time the calls went out, voters were disenfranchised, he said. Asked by his attorney, Tom Reid, whether he did anything illegal, Kramer said, 'I'm positive I did not.' Later, he said he had no regrets and that his actions likely spurred AI regulations in multiple states. Kramer, who will be questioned by prosecutors Thursday, also faces a $6 million fine by the Federal Communications Commission but told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he won't pay it. Lingo Telecom, the company that transmitted the calls, agreed to pay $1 million in a settlement in August. The robocalls appeared to come from a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, Kathy Sullivan, and told voters to call her number to be removed from the call list. On the witness stand earlier Wednesday, Sullivan said she was confused and then outraged after speaking to one of the recipients and later hearing the message. 'I hung up the phone and said, 'There is something really crazy going on,'' she said. 'Someone is trying to suppress the vote for Biden. I can't believe this is happening.' Months later, she got a call from Kramer in which he said he used her number because he knew she would contact law enforcement and the media. He also described his motive — highlighting AI's potential dangers — but she didn't believe him, she testified. 'My sense was he was trying to convince me that he'd done this defensible, good thing,' she said. 'I'm listening to this thinking to myself, 'What does he thing I am, stupid?' He tried to suppress the vote.'
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
‘Do not give in to him': California Gov. Newsom to residents amid ICE raids
In a scathing address on Tuesday evening, California Gov. Gavin Newsom encouraged state residents and all Americans not to give in to U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to detain and deport immigrants. His remarks were prompted by citywide raids that have led to demonstrations across Los Angeles and the deployment of military personnel. Newsom accused Trump of brazenly abusing his power when he sent 4,000 members of the National Guard, and later 700 Marines, to Los Angeles on Monday — without the consent of state officials — to escalate what were non-violent protests into federally endorsed civilian clashes with the military. 'What then ensued was the use of tear gas. Flash-bang grenades. Rubber bullets,' Newsom said. 'Federal agents, detaining people and undermining their due process rights.' He said their presence prompted an uptick in violence, which he condemned. Story continues below advertisement [FULL ADDRESS] Governor Newsom addresses Californians in response to President Trump's assault on democracy and the President's illegal militarization of Los Angeles. — Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) June 11, 2025 'If you incite violence or destroy our communities, you are going to be held accountable. That kind of criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. Full stop,' he said, adding that 370 people have already been arrested. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Footage of the National Guard launching non-lethal incendiary devices to disperse crowds has been widely circulated online, alongside imagery of burning cars and damaged public property. Some videos show reporters being injured by rubber bullets in the field. Newsom reiterated that people should continue to exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of assembly in a peaceful manner and argued that Trump's unnecessary use of force undermined California's ability to handle social upheaval. 'Like many states, California is no stranger to this sort of civil unrest. We manage it regularly … and with our own law enforcement,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'I know many of you are feeling deep anxiety, stress and fear. But I want you to know that you are the antidote to that fear and anxiety. What Donald Trump wants most is your fealty. Your silence. To be complicit in this moment. Do not give in to him.' Newsom, earlier on Tuesday, responded to Trump's calls to have him detained, telling the president in a television interview, 'Get it over with, arrest me,' before demanding that his administration stop targeting vulnerable migrant populations. The Trump administration has arrested and charged several lawmakers and political figures in recent months. Ras Baraka, the Democratic mayor of Newark, N.J., was arrested by ICE during a visit to a federal immigration detention centre that he says is violating safety protocols. Story continues below advertisement Similarly, Democratic U.S. House member LaMonica McIver was charged after visiting an ICE detention facility in New Jersey. In April, a sitting Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, was also taken into custody and charged with crimes that allegedly obstructed the detention of an undocumented immigrant, according to the FBI. Newsom ended his speech with a quote from Justice Brandeis, who served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court from 1916 to 1939, and famously said, 'In a democracy, the most important office is not president, it's certainly not governor. The most important office is office of citizen.' Trump has not responded to Newsom's speech, though he has doubled down on his decision to send in the military, writing on X on Wednesday that if it weren't for the troops, Los Angeles would be burning to the ground.
