2 suspects in Madbury teen killing waive PC hearing

Walusky

Tatum

DOVER, N.H. - Wearing standard gray jail garb and accompanied by defense counsel, two of three suspects charged in the stabbing death of a Madbury teen attended a probable cause hearing today in Dover District Court.

Michael Tatum, 21, of 236 Young Road, Barrington, N.H., appeared first, waiving his probable cause hearing, meaning it will be bound over to Strafford County Superior Court for possible indictment.

Tristan Wolusky, 18, of 46 Lowell St., Rochester, who was without his normal defense counsel, was allowed a continuance until later in the month.

The man named in the criminal complaint as a planner of the event with the other two and the one who drove the trio to 18-year-old Aaron Wilkinson’s home where they allegedly killed him early the morning of June 21, Zachary D.J. Pinette, did not appear. Pinette, whose last known address was 5B Rankin St., Springvale, and his attorney last week petitioned to waive his probable cause hearing, a request granted by the court today.

During their brief appearances, neither Wolusky nor Tatum turned to look back at the courtroom audience where family and friends of the suspects and victim as well as a large contingent of media looked on.

Both defendants acknowledged to the court they understood their rights and answered questions from the judge as briefly as possible. Both were ushered in and out by sheriff’s deputies in separate five-to-10 minute appearances.

Pinette

Prosecutors say that sometime around 1:30 a.m. the night of the killing, Pinette, Volusky and Tatum traveled to Madbury from Maine with the intent to kill Wilkinson, who was killed somewhere on the 36 Evans Road property where he lived with his father.

According to the criminal complaint it is alleged that Pinette held “a machete as Tatum and/or Wolusky stabbed Aaron Wilkinson with knives and the machete Pinette had been holding.”

They are said to have dumped the body on Long Swamp Road in Lebanon.  

After the hearing Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Strelzin said the arrest affidavits will remain sealed except for counsel. 

All three of the defendants are charged with first-degree murder, punishable by up to life without the possibility of parole. They will continue to be held without bail.