The Uncle on Trial: Enhanced or Altered? The Detective Who Brightened the Photos, Full Testimony

He brightened the photos, and the jury went out over whether that changed them. The judge let them in, with the originals beside them. This is the entire testimony of Det. Eric Kelley of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, Day 5 of the Uncle on Trial in Pender County, North Carolina. David Prevatte is on trial for first-degree murder in the death of his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, in November 2017. The State gave notice in February that it will not seek the death penalty (StarNews). Kelley has been with the office since 2004 and a digital forensic examiner since about 2009, trained through an FBI cyber task force. Det. Crowninshield, a retired captain, asked him to take a look at a couple of photographs and see if he could enhance them "for better clarity." What did he know about the case? "Nothing at all." He used a common open source program: brightness, contrast, saturation. It "technically speaking does change the data itself, but it doesn't add anything," he said, and "it's not an exact science" because he did not know the camera. He produced three photos, on one disc, State's 93. The defense objected and the jury went out. The State called the changes "what anyone can do on their phone." Defense attorney Johnson Britt answered that "it enhances it in such a way to change the image," with more prejudicial weight than value. The judge ruled the change does not mislead the jury and allowed State's 93 "with the addition of the original photos," because "the jury needs to have all of the originals in order to be able to make the comparison." With the jury back, State's 93 came in, then State's 94, the two other photos as he received them (any changes? "No, not that I'm aware of"), and State's 95, his own list of every value he adjusted, both over objection. "So you're not Photoshopping anything on there?" "No, absolutely not." The cross was short. "Yes, the image was altered, it has to be altered," he said. You see less in the originals than in the enhanced? "That is correct." Last question: "You don't really know much about it, do you?" "I do not." Here is what I keep coming back to. Both sides agree nothing was painted in. The fight is over whether a brighter picture shows the jury something real or something new. The judge's answer was to give them both and let them compare. Which version will this jury trust? David Prevatte is presumed innocent. The jury decides. KEY MOMENTS 0:00 What this video is, and a preview 0:21 Intro 1:21 Video starts: Det. Eric Kelley takes the stand 3:10 A digital forensic examiner 4:10 Who asked him to enhance the photos 5:01 What did he know about the case? "Nothing at all" 5:39 Brightness and contrast: "it doesn't add anything" 6:27 "It's not an exact science" 8:42 State's 93: the defense objects 9:26 The jury goes out 10:32 Jury out: "altered from the original" 16:31 The lawyers argue it 20:02 The ruling: allowed, with the originals 22:12 The jury comes back: State's 93 admitted 24:29 State's 94: the photos as he received them 26:56 State's 95: every value he adjusted 29:05 "Nothing is added": how pixels work 31:31 "So you're not Photoshopping anything?" 32:19 The defense's cross 32:47 "Yes, the image was altered" 33:24 Who did this help? CASE BACKGROUND REPORT: https://justiceisaprocess.com/nc-v-da... Complete case overview including the charges, the timeline, the key players, and the legal questions this trial raises. State of North Carolina v. David Wesley Prevatte. Pender County Superior Court in Burgaw, North Carolina. Prevatte is charged with first-degree murder in the 2017 death of his five-year-old niece, along with other charges. Jury selection began on September 28, 2026. He is presumed innocent unless and until the State proves each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. LATEST ARTICLE: https://justiceisaprocess.com/desk-20... PLAYLISTS AND RESOURCES Website: https://justiceisaprocess.com/coverag... Full Trial Live Broadcasts:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Full Trial Live Broa...   No Breaks Edition:    • NC v. David Prevatte: No Breaks Edition   Trial Analysis Podcast:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Case Story Trial Pod...   Key Moments and Testimony:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Key Moments & Testimony   Commentary:    • NC v. David Prevatte: Commentary   Subscribe for Daily Coverage:    / @justiceisaprocess   FAIR USE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE This content is produced under Fair Use (17 U.S.C. 107) for news reporting, criticism, and educational purposes. We provide transformative commentary on public court proceedings, advancing public understanding of the judicial process through timestamps, analysis, and educational context. #JusticeIsAProcess #DavidPrevatte #PrevatteTrial