Aristy: I never hit McDonald with board

SALEM – Fernando Aristy testified Friday he punched Chad R. McDonald “four or five” times during a 2010 fight but told a Superior Court jury he never struck McDonald with a board.Aristy, a 25-year-old Dominican Republic native, is on trial for first-degree murder, charged with hitting McDonald, 34, according to police, with a piece of wood and causing injuries that prosecutors said killed McDonald 11 days after the fight.Aristy testified 50 minutes in his own defense, describing a fight with McDonald that included punching, wrestling and, at one point, McDonald picking up a board that Aristy said he took away from McDonald.”At any point did you pick up that board and hit Mr. McDonald with it?” Buso asked Aristy.”No,” Aristy replied.Read the complete story in Saturday’s Item.