14 DAY TRIAL // As the trial continues for 76-year-old Sandra Layne from West Bloomfield Township in Detroit, the woman accused of killing her grandson takes the stand.
Layne claims she has only shot 17-year-old Jonathan Hoffman in self-defense, describing how she felt fear at the time. She has been charged with first degree murder, and her case is being tried in Oakland County Court.
Hoffman was shot nine times, and three of those bullets hit him and eventually caused his death. One of the shots was fired as he was calling 911.
Layne explains being afraid of him because of his odd behavior, brought on by the use of drugs. She had taken him in at her home in the suburbs of Detroit, while his parents were in Arizona.
Christian Post reported that, on May 18, 2012, Hoffman called 911 to alert police about Layne attacking him.
“My grandma shot me,” he told the dispatcher.
According to Layne's testimony, Hoffman was a habitual drug user, having been hospitalized after one incident of drug abuse. She explained that attack occurred when he was under the influence of synthetic marijuana, which was confirmed by the coroner.
In addition to that, prior 911 calls back up the woman's story. She has also told the jury how she “adored” her grandson, despite the way he acted.
“It’s pretty clear jail is wearing on her — she loved him and is devastated by this. [...] She became mother and father to him … she got herself into a bad situation.
“[Her grandson] was not, let’s say, the All-American boy. He had issues,” her attorney Jerome Sabbata claims.
Wild About Trial relays that there was a struggle for the weapon the night of the murder, part of which has been caught on the 911 tape provided by West Bloomfield Police.
“Let go, let go,” Layne said as the dispatcher was on the line.