19 December, 2025, 7:00 am Central - 24°C Rain

Arizona man shot to death in road rage 'returns' to address his killer

Arizona man shot to death in road rage 'returns' to address his killer

By Rashika Kumar
08/05/2025
Source: NPR

Chris Pelkey died in a road rage shooting in Arizona three years ago but with the help of artificial intelligence, he returned earlier this month at his killer's sentencing to deliver a victim's statement himself.

Pelkey’s family members said they used the burgeoning technology to let Pelkey use his own words to talk about the incident that took his life.

While some experts argue the unique use of AI is just another step into the future, others say it could become a slippery slope for using the technology in legal cases.

His sister Stacey Wales says they used voice recordings, videos and pictures of Pelkey, who was 37 when he was killed, to recreate him in a video using AI.

Wales says she wrote the words that the AI version read in court based on how forgiving she knew her brother to be.

The technology was used at his killer's sentencing - Gabriel Horcasitas already had been found guilty by a jury - some four years after Horcasitas shot Pelkey at a red light in Arizona.

The Arizona judge who oversaw the case, Todd Lang, seemed to appreciate the use of AI at the hearing.

He sentenced Horcasitas to 10-and-a-half years in prison on manslaughter charges.

Source: BBC

FEATURE NEWS
Traffickers exploit victims in hotels, homes, and massage parlours in Fiji - US Report
Traffickers exploit victims in commercial sex establishments, hotels, private homes, and massage parlours in Fiji, and sometimes utilize websites and ...
14 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Young teacher mourns grandmothers' death day before graduation
26-year-old Shivendra Shiamal Sharma experienced a deeply bittersweet moment after losing his grandmother just a day before graduating as a primary ...
12 hours ago

Seruiratu questions merger of Sugar Ministry with Agriculture
Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu has raised serious concerns regarding the Prime Minister's decision for the Minister for ...
13 hours ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
13 hours ago

ACP Vusonilawe calls for community action as alcohol-fuelled incidents rise
With alcohol-fuelled incidents on a rise, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe is calling on community members to intervene ...
14 hours ago

Flagstaff and Rewa St drug cases to be called on New Year's Eve
The cases for Flagstaff drug accused Joshua Ravula and Yin Qing Qing and Rewa Street drug accused Yu Yang Feng, Minghui Dai, Zhou Lan, Ginna Choi, ...
15 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States has expressed serious concern about human trafficking indicators linked to the Grace Road Group in Fiji, as highlighted in the 2025 ...
12 hours ago

Human trafficking allegations and issues relating to Grace Road Group
Human trafficking allegations and concerns linked to the Grace Road Group/+ARTICLE-311061+ARTICLE/PM says Govt cannot interfere into any human ...
22 hours ago

Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
7 days ago

TOP