Woman Who Gunned Down Grandson Expected To Testify
PONTIAC (WWJ) - A West Bloomfield grandmother, accused of murder in the shooting death of her own grandson, is expected to take the witness stand this week in her own defense.
Testimony will resume for a fourth day Monday in the case of 75-year-old Sandra Layne, who claims she shot 17-year-old Jonathon Hoffman last May in self-defense.
Her attorney, James Sabbota, said Layne was afraid of her grandson.
"This young man is coming home late, he's running around the streets, he's doing his whatever -- his K2 and his drugs -- and she's afraid; afraid enough where the husband hides the jewelry. So that should show you come kind of fear," Sabbota said. "The story will evolve when people that were present talk about it."
Last week, West Bloomfield Police Officer David Curry, one of the first on the scene, said Layne admitted immediately what she'd done.
"I heard her saying that she shot her grandson, that she killed her grandson, and she repeated that phrase several times," he said.
Earlier, 911 tapes were played that depicted the teen begging for help while shots rang out in the background. At one point, the grandmother asked the dying kid if he wanted a glass of water.
Also testifying last week was a local gun shop owner who said, about one month before the shooting, Layne purchased, and took target practice with the 9mm semi-automatic handgun she used to kill her grandson.
Six prosecution witnesses remain.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.
