Closing Arguments Set in Pender County Murder Trial of David Prevatte
Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday in the Pender County murder trial of David Prevatte, accused of killing his 5-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, in 2017. The judge previously dismissed a statutory rape charge against Prevatte.
Wilmington, NC, October 12, 2026 — The Pender County murder trial involving David Prevatte is nearing its conclusion, with closing arguments scheduled for Tuesday. Prevatte is accused of the killing of his 5-year-old niece, Paitin Fields, an incident that occurred in 2017.
The trial has proceeded in Pender County, focusing on the charges against Prevatte related to the death of Fields. Details surrounding the specific circumstances of the 2017 incident have been presented during the proceedings. The exact date for Tuesday’s closing arguments was not provided in the summary.
Prior to the current phase of the trial, the presiding judge made a decision to dismiss a statutory rape charge that had been filed against Prevatte. The reasons for this dismissal were not detailed in the available information. The current murder charge remains the central focus of the legal proceedings.
The summary indicates that David Prevatte is the sole defendant named in relation to the murder charge. Paitin Fields, the victim, was five years old at the time of her death in 2017. No further information regarding the timeline of events between the 2017 incident and the current trial, nor the specific outcomes of the trial proceedings leading up to closing arguments, was provided.
The conclusion of closing arguments on Tuesday will mark a significant step towards a potential verdict in the case. The defense and prosecution will present their final arguments to the jury. The judge previously dismissed a statutory rape charge against Prevatte, but the murder charge is still active.
Story summarized from the original created by WWAY News on www.wwaytv3.com, see more information here.
