A FIRST: Florida Judge Uses VR Headset to Stand in the Footsteps of the Accused During Alleged Crime

Florida Judge Andrew Siegel broke new ground by donning a VR headset in court.

This was to virtually tour a wedding venue where the owner allegedly waved a gun at unruly guests.

The defense’s move aims to help Miguel Albisu’s stand-your-ground claim.

It puts the wearer of the virtual reality headset into the shoe’s of Albisu.

This incident took place in 2023.

Albisu, who denies wrongdoing, says he acted in self-defense.

As VR enters the courtroom, it raises questions about how tech could reshape justice.

Welcome to the future.

Will we see this trend continue?

And if so, when will we get proper hover boards?

Newsweek reports:

A Florida judge has made history by wearing a virtual reality headset to examine an alleged crime scene.

Judge Andrew Siegel agreed to a defense request that he wear the headset to review a wedding venue where the owner allegedly pulled a gun on rowdy guests.

Why It Matters
As virtual reality technology advances, it could offer a more immersive experience in courtrooms, beyond the traditional CCTV and photos.

Artificial intelligence could also help to make the virtual reality experience more lifelike.

What To Know

Broward County Judge Andrew Siegel used a virtual reality headset, supplied by the defense, to view a wedding reception from the perspective of the owner, Miguel Albisu, who is on trial for aggravated assault. He is accused of waving a gun at guests at Southwest Ranches wedding venue in 2023 and was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Albisu has pleaded not guilty and has said he was acting in self-defense.

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Newsweek sought email comment from his attorney, Ken Padowitz, on Friday.

The defense team hired an artist to display the wedding venue using an Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.

Albisu is seeking to use Florida’s stand-your-ground law, which allows property owners to use guns to defend themselves, their family and their property.

Florida judge looks through a VR headset to put himself in the defendant’s shoes (self-defense scenario): pic.twitter.com/ehaTD4LCMz

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) January 2, 2025