Arizona appeals court vacates sentence after judge said he loved victim's AI video

Court throws out killer's sentence after judge said he loved AI video of victim

The Arizona Court of Appeals vacated Gabriel Paul Horcasitas's manslaughter sentence, ruling that admitting an AI video of the victim was fundamental error, and ordered resentencing. The sister of victim Christopher Pelkey made a video simulating his likeness and words, in which he forgave the defendant. The trial judge said he loved the video and found it real, then imposed the maximum 10½ years.

Why it matters: The appeals court found the family-made AI video undermined the fairness of sentencing, drawing a line on fabricated victim statements entering court proceedings.