US court vacates sentence over AI victim video played at trial, orders resentencing

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

An Arizona appeals court ruled that Gabriel Paul Horcasitas must be resentenced because a court improperly played an AI video of the deceased victim. He was serving 10 years for shooting 37-year-old Christopher Pelkey in 2021. The victim's family made the AI footage from recordings, video and photos to express forgiveness, and it was played before last year's sentencing. The appeals court said the video depicted the victim and his thoughts as imagined by his sister, going beyond what is allowed.

Why it matters: An Arizona appeals court ordered a new sentencing because a family-made AI video of the victim was played in court, drawing a line around invented victim thoughts in sentencing material.