Harrison Thorp 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 20, 2025 12:30 pm

Jason Levesque explains the sequence of events on April 4 while reviewing surveillance video. (CourtTV screen capture)

DOVER - The Rochester man accused in the attempted murder case that erupted over a snowplow dispute last April took the stand in his own defense on Thursday, admitting numerous times that what the court saw in surveillance videos was diametrically opposed to answers he gave police during a recorded interview the night of the shooting.
Under questioning from Assistant Strafford County Attorney Joachim Barth, Jason Levesque, 45, of 41 Summer Street, testified over and over that his answers during the initial police interview were vastly different than what the videos depicted. Levesque told Barth that was because he was tired from working two days straight and emotionally distraught over what had happened
"You said Kyle Violette was angry when you brought out your gun. And that he quickened his pace toward you," Barth said. "You said you could see he was trying to attack you by the look in his eye."
"That what I remembered at that time," Levesque said.
"But the videos show that was not true," Barth replied. "That was a lie what you told police."
"No. that was me not remembering," Levesque testified. "Again I was extremely tired, I was doing my best to help him (the detective)."
A few moments later Barth continued his questioning.

"You said he kept coming at you after he was shot the first time," he said. "You said he kept coming at you, so you unloaded your gun. But the video shows he was not a threat because he was on the ground crawling toward his porch with a bullet in his head."

Levesque repeated the same explanation, saying he was tired when he was talking to police on April 4.
Violette suffered six bullet wounds, including one to his mouth and five more to his torso. He spent more than a month in intensive care at a Boston hospital and has undergone several surgeries since.
Defense attorney Mark Sisti questioned Levesque first, asking him about how tired he was the night of the shooting, the intense desire to protect his family and the speed at which the incident unfolded.
He also had Levesque explain his actions the night of the shooting while referring to some of the surveillance video.
The trial will conclude today with closing arguments.

Levesque faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder.