David Prevatte murder trial: What happened during the first days of testimony

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Nearly nine years after 5-year-old Paitin Fields suffered fatal injuries inside a Pender County home, her uncle, David Prevatte, is on trial facing murder and sexual assault charges.

The trial is taking place at the Pender County Judicial Annex, where jurors have heard testimony and seen evidence concerning what happened to Fields on Nov. 13, 2017.

Fields was found unresponsive inside a home on Blackwater Drive in the early morning hours. She was taken to Pender Memorial Hospital before being transferred to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, now Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She died three days later.

Prosecutors allege Fields was strangled and sexually assaulted and that Prevatte was responsible for her death.

Prevatte’s defense has argued that he did not hurt his niece. Instead, his attorney says Prevatte was trying to save Fields’ life after she was found unresponsive.

During opening statements, defense attorney Luther Johnson Britt III told jurors Prevatte decided not to wait for an ambulance and instead rushed Fields to the hospital.

“David was in the back seat with Paitin, holding her in his arms, trying to get her to breathe, trying to get her to respond,” Britt said.

The state then presented medical evidence, calling doctors who treated Fields after she arrived at the hospital.

Dr. Brian McGrath testified about the injuries he observed, including a mark across Fields’ neck.

McGrath told prosecutors there was no medical condition or infection that would explain the combination of physical findings and the severe neurological injury Fields suffered.

When asked whether he believed the injuries were non-accidental, McGrath answered, “I do.”

Fields’ grandmother, Lisa Hunt, also testified.

Hunt, who is Prevatte’s mother, told the court she walked into the living room and found Fields on a couch.

“I walked in there and I cut the TV down and I turned around and I seen Paitin on the couch seizing,” Hunt testified.

Hunt said Fields had been sick that weekend with a fever and a bad cough.

She also testified that she did not see anything around Fields’ neck when she found her.

According to Hunt’s testimony, Prevatte took Fields from her and began performing CPR.

Fields’ grandfather, Dale Hunt, later testified about the trip to the hospital.

Dale Hunt, who is Prevatte’s stepfather, said Prevatte continued performing CPR on Fields in the back seat of the vehicle.

“David was giving her mouth-to-mouth,” Hunt testified. He said Prevatte then told him, “Daddy, let’s go,” prompting him to speed toward the hospital.

Hunt testified that he reached speeds of about 160 mph while driving Fields to the hospital.

Dale Hunt’s testimony also focused on an incident involving Fields and her 7-year-old sister, Savannah, earlier that day.

Hunt testified that Savannah had been punished after putting a dog leash around Fields’ neck.

Hunt confirmed that Fields had a dog leash around her neck when asked about the incident in court.

The testimony is part of the defense’s argument challenging the state’s explanation of how Fields suffered her injuries.

The trial is scheduled to continue Monday morning at 9:30 a.m., when additional witnesses are expected to testify.