DOVER, N.H. — Three men charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of an 18-year-old New Hampshire man are being held without bail.
Attorney General Joseph Foster said Aaron Wilkinson was killed about 1:30 a.m. Saturday on his property in Madbury. His body was found about 20 miles away in Lebanon, Maine. Court documents say knives and a machete were used to stab Wilkinson. They also mention a plan to kill him.
Arraigned Thursday were Zachary Pinette, 18, of Springvale, Maine; Michael Tatum, 21, of Barrington, N.H.; and Tristan Wolusky, 18, of Rochester, N.H.
All three were represented by lawyers in Dover District Court who declined to comment on their clients’ cases. No plea was entered; a probable cause hearing was scheduled for July 14.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeff Strelzin said it was not a random killing.
‘‘The three defendants knew the victim,’’ Strelzin said.
Chris Cote, 19, of Dover, said he has been close friends with Wilkinson for the past seven years and the two spoke regularly by cellphone.
‘‘A few weeks back he told me he was struggling for food, not for his life,’’ Cote said after court Thursday. He said Wilkinson ‘‘never used drugs, never needed a fix.’’
‘‘He was smart and had a lot of friends,’’ Cote said.
A walk and a candlelight vigil were being organized in memory of Wilkinson Friday.
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