Wolusky's fate is now in the jury's hands

Tristan Wolusky could be found guilty of either first- or second-degree murder or innocent of both. (Union Leader photo)

DOVER, N.H. - With prosecution and defense lawyers both taking turns hammering away at the credibility of the trio accused in the brutal slaying of a Madbury teen, Thursday's closing arguments boiled down to a rerun of a 1950s TV show called, "Who do you Trust?"

Zachary "D.J." Pinette, 19, of 58 Rankin St., Springvale, Maine; and Tatum, 22, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, have already pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the June 21, 2014, fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Aaron Wilkinson in the driveway of his Madbury, N.H., home and face 30 years to life sentences.

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

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

Prosecutors have portrayed Wolusky as the ringleaders in the botched robbery and death of Wilkinson.

As expected Thursday's arguments centered around the relative truthfulness of the three defendants, all who have something to gain by having the jury believe their version of events.

Defense attorney Mark Sisti proclaimed Wolusky was "no angel" but that he was also "no murderer."

He agreed his client was guilty of several crimes like conspiracy to commit robbery and falsifying physical evidence, but not stabbing Wilkinson in the back.

Sisti called state witnesses Pinette and Tatum "rats" who ran to the cops to save their skins days after Wilkinson's death.

Meanwhile, Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley, chief prosecutor in the case, pounded away at Wolusky's credibility, saying he'd been lying all along and was lying now trying to beat a murder rap.

After jurors heard closing arguments they received their instructions from the judge and began deliberations, but reached no verdict Thursday afternoon.

They'll get another long weekend now with no deliberations set for today and then resume on Monday.

Jurors can find Wolusky guilty of either first- or second-degree murder or innocent of both.