Man gets life for killing of Florence woman

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — A Florence County jury has convicted a 26-year-old man of killing a Florence woman during a robbery in her home.

The Morning News of Florence reported (http://bit.ly/zYyrOc ) that David Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday after he was found guilty of murder, first-degree burglary, armed robbery and other charges.

Johnson’s attorney argued he did not kill 69-year-old Willie Mae Hayes in August 2008 and was surprised when one of his co-defendants attacked her.

But prosecutors say Johnson was the mastermind of the crime, linked to the incident by DNA.

Authorities say three men broke into Hayes’ home and stabbed her while she was asleep. They wrapped her body in her sheets and dumped it in a ditch.

The other two men will be tried later.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com