Emotionless Wolusky guilty of 1st-degree murder

Convicted murderer Tristan Wolusky leaves court with a Sheriff's deputy. (WMUR image)

DOVER, N.H. - An emotionless Tristan Wolusky listened Monday as after just five hours of deliberation a Strafford County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder leaving him the prospect of life in prison without parole for his role in the brutal stabbing death of Madbury teen Aaron Wilkinson in June of last year.

Wolusky, 19, of 46 Lowell St., Rochester, was also found guilty of falsifying physical evidence, conspiracy to commit robbery, hindering apprehension, witness tampering and conspiracy to commit witness tampering.
Wolusky testified in his own defense last week and said he never stabbed Wilkinson, a fact buttressed by co-conspirator Zachary "D.J." Pinette, 19, of 58 Rankin St., Springvale, Maine; who also testified he never saw Wolusky with a knife.

But both Pinette and Michael Tatum, 22, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, agreed it was Wolusky who hatched the plan to steal drugs from Wilkinson and held him down while he was fatally stabbed.

After killing Wilkinson around 1:30 a.m. early June 21, 2014, the three dumped his body along Long Swamp Lane in Lebanon.

Pinette and Tatum have already pleaded guilty to second degree murder and face 30 years to life sentences, with the chance for parole.

Pinette's and Tatum's plea deals were in exchange for their testimony against Wolusky, whom prosecutors portrayed as the ringleader.

Their sentencing had been postponed pending their performance at trial, but have now been set for November.

Meanwhile, a bristling defense lawyer Mark Sisti, who asserted Pinette's and Tatum's testimony was tainted as they were lying to save their own hides, has already said he will appeal his client's conviction.