Pinette: Wolusky punched, stomped dying Wilkinson

Zachary 'D.J.' Pinette of Springvale, Maine, testifies during the Aaron Wilkinson murder trial Thursday at Strafford County Superior Court in Dover, N.H. (Courtesy photo/Union Leader)

DOVER, N.H. - Aaron Wilkinson's family members and even some jury members were moved to tears Thursday as one of his killers described how the Madbury teen asked simply, "What did I do wrong?" as he was "gurgling blood" from multiple stab wounds, his life slowly ebbing away.

Even after that horrific scene, Zachary "D.J." Pinette said accused ringleader Tristan Wolusky continued to attack Wilkinson, punching him, throwing him to the ground again and stomping on his head.

Later when traveling to Lebanon to dump the body on Long Swamp Road, Pinette said Wolusky was furious that he'd gotten Wilkinson's blood and urine all over his clothes.

Thursday marked the second time in two days that a co-defendant in the grisly slaying testified that Wolusky orchestrated and masterminded the planning and execution of the attempted robbery of the 18-year-old Wilkinson and played the pivotal role in his bloody death.

Wilkinson was stabbed and struck with a machete some 22 times in the back, neck, head and legs in the driveway of his Madbury, N.H., home around 1:30 a.m. on June 21, 2014.

Pinette, 19, of 58 Rankin St., Springvale, Maine; Michael Tatum, 21, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, N.H., who testified on Wednesday and Thursday, have already pleaded guilty to second degree murder and face 30 years to life sentences.

Wolusky, 19, of 46 Lowell St., Rochester, meanwhile, is facing the possibility of life without parole if he is convicted of first degree murder.

Pinette's and Tatum's plea deals are in in exchange for their testimony against Wolusky,

Pinette began his testimony on Thursday by telling Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley that he only planned to rob Wilkinson of drugs and money, not kill him.

But when Tatum began stabbing Wilkinson as Wolusky held him down and Wolusky turned to him and asked if he was going to do anything, Pinette said he began striking the victim with the machete.

Earlier in his testimony Pinette told jurors that on the night of June 21 while Wolusky was talking with Wilkinson that he and Tatum had decided not to go through with the robbery but then Wolusky signaled them it was on and threw Wilkinson to the ground.

That's when Tatum began stabbing him, testified Pinette, who also revealed on Thursday that he never actually remembers seeing Wolusky stab Wilkinson, himself.

During the most graphic parts of Pinette's testimony, even some jurors softly sobbed as Wilkinson family members wept.

Pinette's testimony Thursday matched up with Tatum's testimony on Wednesday that Wolusky planned to drag Wilkinson's body far into the woods off Long Swamp Road but a passing car in the early morning hours of June 21 cut his effort short and Wilkinson's body was left just feet off the roadway.

Pinette was at times remorseful of what had happened, showing more emotion than Tatum the day before and saying at one point, "It's the worst thing I could have ever done" and "I regret it every day."

Pinette's testimony for the state continues today followed by cross-examination by the defense.

The trial could last as late as mid-October.