Harrison Thorp
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 10:30 am
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DOVER, N.H. - A Strafford County Superior Court judge will consider a defense motion to vacate the guilty verdict against a Rochester man who along with two others killed a Madbury teen in June 2014.
Tristan Wolusky, 19, along with Michael Tatum, 22, of Barrington, and Zachary "D.J." Pinette, 20, of Springvale, Maine, have all been found guilty in the death of Aaron Wilkinson, 18, of Madbury, but Wolusky is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder, while the other two face 25-year to life with the potential for parole on second-degree murder charges.
Both Pinette and Tatum agreed during trial it was Wolusky who hatched the plan to steal drugs from Wilkinson and held him down while he was fatally stabbed in the driveway of his Madbury home..
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 were granted the lesser sentences for their testimony against Wolusky portraying him as the ringleader, but defense attorney Mark Sisti argued on Monday that their statements were contradictory regarding the night of the slaying.
He also argued their testimony was tainted as they had failed polygraph tests and that the prosecution had not allowed defense attorney proper access to them prior to trial.
Judge Steven Houran said he will try to render a decision on the defense request prior to Wolusky's sentencing scheduled for next week, or, if necessary, the sentencing may be postponed pending his decision.