A West Columbia man was convicted Thursday night of murdering his boss, 64-year-old Perry Williams over three years ago, according to the 6th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Jafari Hundozo Callaham Jr., 24, of West Columbia, was convicted of murder and related offenses and sentenced to 60 years in prison Thursday night for the murder of Williams after a jury trial in Winnsboro. Callaham and a second defendant, Danny Lee Wilkerson, had each been charged with murder, assault and battery with intent to kill, armed robbery, arson second degree, grand larceny over $1,000 and possession of a knife during the commission of a violent crime for events that occurred on the afternoon of April 20, 2007, at 355 Wateree Key Court on Lake Wateree in Fairfield County.

Callaham, Wilkerson and victim Sean Traynor were employed by the victim, Perry Williams, to pressure wash and paint the Lake Wateree house, deck and boardwalk. During the early afternoon, the homeowner went to the property to check the progress of the work and discovered a small fire near the door to the residence, which had been broken. A gasoline can was found inside the door. The fire caused minor damage to the residence. The homeowner summoned fire personnel and officers of the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and the State Law Enforcement Division arson investigation unit also responded.

Approximately two hours later, Traynor was found injured by a nearby motorist. Fairfield County Emergency Medical Services personnel and a Fairfield County deputy responded to assist Traynor.

Traynor told investigators he had been hit in the back of the head with a blunt object and stabbed in the neck by Callaham and Wilkerson at the Lake Wateree property. Traynor escaped, jumped into the lake, swam across a cove to a neighboring pier and walked through the woods before finding help. Traynor also told investigators he believed Williams had been attacked by Callaham and Wilkerson and was still on the property. When investigators probing the fire received this information, they began looking around the Lake Wateree property. Williams’ body was discovered on the boardwalk leading to the lake. Williams had been stabbed 10 times in the neck, chest, back and arm and died as the result of the stab wounds, according to Dr. Joel Sexton of Newberry Pathology Associates, who performed an autopsy the next day.

Traynor was admitted to a Columbia hospital overnight for treatment. He subsequently recovered from his injuries.

Williams’ 1996 Ford pickup was missing from the property. Based upon information provided by Traynor and evidence found on the property, investigators went to West Columbia and located and arrested Callaham and Wilkerson at the residence they shared with their girlfriends.

A search warrant for the residence was obtained, and clothing and other items were seized. Wilkerson gave investigators a statement admitting participation in the crimes and implicating Callaham. Also, Williams’ truck was found at a convenience store approximately two blocks from Callaham’s and Wilkerson’s residence. Williams’ Social Security card was found on the floorboard of the truck.

DNA testing revealed that Williams’ blood was present on a pair of jeans seized from the defendants’ residence. Investigators also discovered that four bus tickets in the names of Callaham, Wilkerson and their girlfriends were purchased in Columbia just before 4 p.m. the day Williams was killed. The bus was to depart Columbia for Johnson City, Tenn. at 4:45 a.m. the next day.

Wilkerson testified during Callaham’s trial, admitting that he struck Traynor in the head with a hammer, and said that Callaham stabbed Traynor and Williams with a knife. Wilkerson also said Callaham set the fire at the property. Callaham was convicted of murder, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, arson second degree, grand larceny over $1,000 and use of a knife during the commission of a violent crime.

Wilkerson pled guilty to accessory after the fact of murder, accessory after the fact of armed robbery and assault and battery with intent to kill Monday before the trial began. After Callaham was sentenced Thursday night, Wilkerson was sentenced to 17 years for assault and battery with intent to kill and 15 years for each of the other offenses, which he will serve concurrently. Judge Brooks P. Goldsmith of Lancaster presided over the week-long trial. Callaham was defended by Public Defender Mike Lifsey and Solicitor Doug Barfield prosecuted the case.