Tatum says he was offered money, protection for recanting testimony

Convicted murderer Tristan Wolusky waves and smiles to the courtroom on Monday during a motion to set aside evidentiary hearing at Strafford County Superior Court. (Lebanon Voice photos)

DOVER - Saying he thought no one should do life in prison and lured by the promise of money and protection, convicted murderer Michael Tatum admitted on Monday he and fellow inmate Zachary Pinette agreed to a scheme hatched by ringleader Tristan Wolusky to help him get a new trial in the murder of a Madbury teen two years ago.

Monday's evidentiary hearing on a Motion to set aside Wolusky's conviction and grant a new trial featured a bizarre back and forth between defense attorney Mark Sisti and prosecutor Peter Hinckley regarding the credibility of the witness and affidavits signed by Tatum and Pinette that suggested Wolusky had no hand in the actual killing of Aaron Wilkinson on June 21, 2014.

Wilkinson, 18, of Madbury, died during a botched robbery by the three aimed at stealing drugs and money. He was stabbed and struck with a machete more than 20 times, according to a coroner's report.

Michael Tatum is escorted from the courtroom by Sheriff's Deputies and court bailiffs on Monday at Strafford County Superior Court.

His body was later dumped along Long Swamp Road in Lebanon where a woman walking her dog found it later that day.

In the affidavit, signed by Tatum on March 16, a series of statements were written down by the defense team, which Tatum was asked to review and make corrections.

Among those were statements that Wolusky did not hold Wilkinson down while he was being stabbed and that Wolusky never told Tatum or Pinette to kill Wilkinson.

During testimony, Tatum, of Barrington, said he assumed those reviewing the affidavit with him knew he was lying.

Tatum said he, Pinette and Wolusky agreed to the scheme early in 2016 while standing in an outside area at the men's prison in Concord called the "cages." He said Wolusky also advised him about the plot while playing basketball on an outside court near Tatum's cell window.

He said he was promised money and protection for helping Wolusky, whom he said he still considered a "friend."

Aaron Wilkinson

"In February we were all together in the "cages" and decided to lie," he said, adding later, "No one should have to do life. I was lying; I was trying to help my friend."

The monthlong trial of Wolusky last fall stunned the northern Seacoast with its sheer senseless brutality, and pitted accomplices Tatum and Pinette against purported ringleader Wolusky as they turned state's evidence against their former cohort in pursuit of life sentences with the possibility of parole down the road.

Pinette, 20, along with Tatum, 22, both turned state's witnesses in exchange for 30-year sentences with the possibility of parole.

Prosecutor Peter Hinckley, seeking to solidify the credibility of Tatum's testimony during the actual trial, asked him what was his lighter sentence given in return for.

"Telling the truth," Tatum said.

Testimony on Monday also revealed that Wolusky had talked to Tatum about double jeopardy, a legal term that states you can't be tried twice for the same crime.

"Had you ever heard of double jeopardy before that?" questioned Hinckley.

"No," Tatum replied.

Wolusky, 19, of Rochester, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, on Monday smiled effusively at times, even at one point waving to family in the courtroom.

Pinette, of Springvale, took the stand for a short time before the hearing ended, saying that "some of the testimony during the trial was not accurate."

In his affidavit recorded earlier this spring he said, "I did not see Tristan Wolusky with either a knife or a machete at any point after Michael Tatum, Mr. Wolusky, and I got out of the car in Aaron Wilkinson's driveway."

The hearing continues today at Strafford County Superior Court.