Wolusky claims he argued against knife use

Tristan Wolusky ... faces life without parole

DOVER, N.H. - The Rochester teenager accused of being the mastermind in the robbery attempt and killing of a Madbury teen said he neither struck nor stabbed the victim during the attack and was afraid to intervene against his co-conspirators for fear of being stabbed, himself.

A composed Tristan Wolusky took the stand on Wednesday in his first-degree murder trial at Strafford County Superior Court.

Wolusky, 19, of 46 Lowell St., Rochester, along with Zachary "D.J." Pinette, 19, of 58 Rankin St., Springvale, Maine; and Michael Tatum, 21, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, are all accused in the June 21, 2014, fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Aaron Wilkinson in the driveway of his Madbury home.

Pinette and Tatum have already exchanged plea deals and testimony against Wolusky for second-degree murder convictions and 30-year to life sentences.

Wolusky, meanwhile, faces life without parole if convicted.

Wolusky admitted on Wednesday he threw Wilkinson to the ground and held him face down, but never threw a punch or thrust a knife into the defenseless teen.

Under questioning from defense lawyers, Wolusky said shortly after he threw Wilkinson down and held him there Pinette asked him to move up and began hacking at the victim's legs with a machete.

He said he then saw Tatum holding knives in both hands and stabbing Wilkinson at least four times.

He said he didn't try to stop the pair because he didn't want to get hurt.

"I was scared," he said.

In earlier testimony on Wednesday Wolusky detailed the trio's planning of the robbery during a drug-infused night of marijuana and spice the night before the slaying at Pinette's Springvale apartment.

Wolusky testified that when he found out Wilkinson had no marijuana to sell to him he realized he must have money.

He denied any discussion of knives or killing with either Tatum or Pinette.

Wolusky, however, did admit his guilt in the robbery and disposing of the body along Long Swamp Road in Lebanon.

Wolusky said the robbery went awry when Tatum and Pinette failed to jump Wilkinson as he walked with Wolusky in the darkened driveway of Wilkinson's Evans Road home.

Wolusky said he tried to distract Wilkinson by having them both search through Pinette's car.

Things got out of hand, however, when Pinette began hitting the hood of his car with his fist, Wolusky said.

After Pinette accused Wilkinson of stealing from his car, Wolusky testified he told Pinette and Tatum to put down their weapons and lay them on the hood of the car, which they did.

"It's not needed," Wolusky said of the knives.

Wolusky said moments later Wilkinson asked Pinette and Tatum to leave. Pinette then complained he'd lost his cellphone and would come back tomorrow, which distracted Wilkinson enough for Wolusky to attack, he testified.

A few minutes later Wilkinson was dead from 22 stab wounds to his head, neck, back and legs.

Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley told Wolusky his testimony had been practiced and polished.

Wolusky admitted his guilt in the robbery and getting rid of the body but not murder.

"I don't want to be convicted for a crime I did not commit," he said.

Hinckley's cross-examination of Wolusky continues today.