Uncle on Trial: Jury Hears Paitin Fields' Sister at 11 Say She Saw Her Uncle Come From the Couch

At 7, two days after that night, Paitin Fields' sister told an interviewer her uncle was sleeping and she did not see anything happen. At 11, four years later, the same interviewer asked her again, and this time she said she saw him come from the couch. Day 5 of the trial of David Wesley Prevatte in Pender County, North Carolina. The uncle on trial is charged in the November 2017 death of his five-year-old niece, Paitin Fields. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent. The State gave notice in February it will not seek the death penalty (StarNews, Oct. 1). On Day 1 the State told jurors Savannah saw her uncle walk back to his room; the defense said that in 2017 and 2018 she said nothing about David at all. State's Exhibit 86 holds three recorded interviews of Savannah by Julie Ozier of the Carousel Center. The clip opens on the first, November 15, 2017: what was Uncle Boo-Boo doing? "He was sleeping." Did you see anything happen to Paitin? "No." Then the jury hears the third, February 18, 2022 (audio only; the video was kept off the broadcast). Savannah is 11. What happened when you woke up? "I saw my Uncle Boo-Boo coming from the couch back to his room." Then: "I just saw him. I woke up that night, saw him come from the couch all the way up to his bedroom. I don't know what upset him." She marks room photos. Ozier asks how she knows that happened. Her answer is unclear on the recording. Ozier: "When you and I talked a long time ago, I don't remember if you told me that part." Savannah: "No, I didn't." Asked why not: "Um, I don't know." Asked what she thinks happened to Paitin, she says, "I think Uncle Boo-Boo killed her." Her answer about whether anyone told her what to say is unclear; after a break, Ozier recaps: "You said no." Back on the stand, Ozier walks jurors through State's 87, 88 and 89, the marked photos: the sofa corner where Savannah slept, the line she drew for Uncle Boo-Boo walking from the sofa to his bedroom, and "Uncle Boo-Boo's room." Over an objection, Ozier tells jurors that disclosure is typically a process and information can trickle out over time. Here is what I am watching. At 7 she said her uncle was asleep. At 11 she says she saw him come from the couch, and that she did not tell that part before. The State says children disclose over time. Ozier's cross-examination comes next. Which account carries the weight? --- KEY MOMENTS 0:00 Video starts: her first interview, 2017 0:29 Four years later: interview three goes to the jury 1:29 Interview three: she is 11 5:02 What she says she saw when she woke up 8:21 "Tell me everything about that part" 17:43 The interviewer asks how she knows 18:55 What she thinks happened to Paitin 19:24 After a break, the interviewer checks her answers 21:17 Was she told what to say? 21:42 Back in court: the photos she marked 24:43 The interviewer on 2022 and on how children disclose 28:35 Three questions for you --- COMPLETE CASE COVERAGE justiceisaprocess.com SUBSCRIBE for daily trial coverage. 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