Deepfake in the Courtroom

The Voice Beyond the Grave

In an emotional and unprecedented court appearance, a man who was fatally shot in a 2021 road rage incident in Denver, Colorado, virtually addressed the courtroom—including the man convicted of killing him—through an AI-generated re-creation of his voice and image. The family of 30-year-old Alexander “AJ” Jamieson worked with a video production studio and AI technology to generate a realistic digital version of AJ that read a victim impact statement, drafted based on conversations with loved ones. Played during the sentencing hearing, the AI-generated AJ conveyed grief, loss, and a demand for justice—stunning attendees and highlighting the rapidly evolving role of synthetic media in modern life, including the justice system.

Technology Meets Tragedy

The AI version of AJ was created using voice models trained on old voicemails and videos, combined with facial motion technology to produce a deeply lifelike image. While his family said the goal was to keep AJ’s memory alive and “give him a voice,” the move sparked a wave of questions about ethics, digital identity, and emotional impact. Prosecutors supported the use of the AI video in court, saying it added a powerful, personal layer to the sentencing argument. The killer, 24-year-old Dillon Halowell, received a 40-year prison sentence. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, this courtroom moment may mark a turning point for its application in law and beyond.