A former Air Force intelligence airman might not have pulled the trigger, but he was just as responsible for the slaying of an Augusta man, a jury determined Thursday.

The Richmond County Superior Court jury convicted Said Mutazz, 26, of murder and weapon charges for the Oct. 9, 2005, slaying of Dontavious Wyman.

The killing of the 24-year-old Mr. Wyman was an execution, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Johnston said in closing arguments.

After he dropped his chosen assassin nearby, Mr. Mutazz drove the victim to a dark inner-city street flanked by abandoned homes, Mr. Johnston said. There, Walter Geter stepped out with a Tec 9 and fired at least 17 rounds at Mr. Wyman, Mr. Johnston said. Several shots were fired into Mr. Wyman's face as he lay on the ground.

Defense attorney Pete Theodocion argued to the jury in closing that Mr. Mutazz had no reason to want Mr. Wyman dead. It was Mr. Geter - who has pleaded innocent and will stand trial separately - who was angry with Mr. Wyman and considered him a rival in the drug trade, Mr. Theodocion said.

Mr. Mutazz was stationed at Fort Gordon at the time of killing. He ended up with Mr. Wyman on Dunns Lane because he wanted to buy a little marijuana, Mr. Theodocion said.

But, Mr. Johnston countered, if Mr. Mutazz wasn't involved in the slaying, how did he happen to drive Mr. Wyman to the exact spot where Mr. Geter lay in wait?

And if he were innocent, why did Mr. Mutazz go out for drinks and play pool with Mr. Geter in a downtown Augusta bar after the slaying, Mr. Johnston questioned.

Mr. Mutazz faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison plus five years.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.