A jury in Florida was shown a reenactment of events on a Quest 2 virtual reality headset, reliving the moment when a defendant brandished a gun at a wedding ceremony.
A Miami-based news outlet, WPLG Local 10, reported that virtual reality (VR) headsets were brought into a courtroom during a recent stand-your-ground hearing last week. The protection team ordered an animator to create a visual representation of pivotal moments that capture the defendant’s experience, including a virtual reality (VR) segment designed specifically for court viewing.
“Digital actuality allows us to pinpoint precisely where my client was situated when he found himself surrounded and grabbed, his life in imminent danger. At that critical moment, he had no choice but to defend himself by drawing out that firearm,” said attorney Ken Padowitz during a phone call with UploadVR this week.
Padowitz suggests that the application of VR headsets in the context at hand is pivotal, allowing for immersive experiences; however, it’s also possible to share additional instances where this technology has been employed effectively, whether in real-life settings or even in science fiction like Star Trek.
In the Florida case, a viral video emerged, showcasing a pivotal moment: a video captured at the scene of the defendant’s arrest, offering a first-person account of the events as they unfolded that fateful night. Padowitz must consider presenting an alternative viewpoint to the jury through the lens of a VR headset, if his client’s case warrants it.
While authorized procedures vary by jurisdiction, courtroom proceedings often feature advocates using physical props or animations to recreationally depict events and emotionally connect with judges or jurors, as if they were witnesses to the disputed occurrences.
Should Padowitz or another qualified legal expert explore the possibility of empanelling a jury composed of acquaintances in a virtual reality setting, we will thoroughly investigate the relevant methods involved.
