JONATHAN HOFFMANN - 17 yo / Accused: Sandra Layne - Bloomfield Hills MI

Suburban Detroit grandmother, 74, faces open murder in shooting death of 17-year-old grandson

COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press
First Posted: May 21, 2012 - 1:41 pm
Last Updated: May 21, 2012 - 1:41 pm

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — A 74-year-old woman has been charged with open murder in the shooting death of her 17-year-old grandson in the suburban Detroit condo they shared.

Sandra Layne was arraigned Monday in Bloomfield District Court. She was ordered held without bond.

His father, Michael Hoffman of Scottsdale, Ariz., says the teen was living with his grandparents so he could complete his senior year in Farmington schools while his divorced parents settled in Arizona.

Jonathan Hoffman was shot late Friday afternoon in his grandparents West Bloomfield Township home, northwest of Detroit.

His father, Michael Hoffman of Scottsdale, Ariz., says the teen was living with his grandparents so he could complete his senior year in Farmington schools while his divorced parents settled in Arizona.

Layne's lawyer, Jerome Sabbota, has said she "was afraid" and fired her new .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun because she felt she had no choice.

Jonathan Hoffman was not armed. His funeral his set for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d78b441add77434b8fba4ec428db61ff/MI--Teen-Slain-Grandmother/

Grandmother Indicted with Murder

VIDEO: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/Uncut-Grandmother-charged-with-open-murder/-/1719418/13512514/-/tu6wjjz/-/index.html

Police: Mich. woman shoots grandson 8 times

May 22, 2012 7:29 AM

(CBS/AP) FARMINGTON, Mich. - Jonathan Hoffman frantically told a 911 dispatcher he had been shot in the chest by his grandmother and was going to die, a police detective testified Monday.

By the time officers arrived at the family's upscale condo in a Detroit suburb, at least four more shots from a .40-caliber handgun had been pumped into the 17-year-old high school senior.

Hoffman's grandmother, 74-year-old Sandra Layne, has been charged with open murder in the shooting death of her grandson and held without bond. She stood mute in court during Monday's arraignment when the charge was read, and a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf.

An open murder charge allows a jury to decide on whether a first- or second-degree charge applies after hearing evidence.

She did not look at the judge or attorneys but instead waved and blew kisses to her husband, CBS Station WWJ reports.


An undated family photo of Jonathan Hoffman.
(Credit: AP/Ira Kaufman Chapel)

A West Bloomfield Township detective told a judge during Monday's arraignment that eight entry and exit wounds were found in Hoffman's body after the Friday afternoon shooting.

Hoffman had been attending an alternative high school in nearby Farmington and living with his maternal grandparents so he could complete his senior year while his divorced parents settled in Arizona, according to his father, Michael Hoffman of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Layne's attorneys have said there were problems at the condo, and Layne was afraid of her grandson. One of her attorneys, Mitchell Ribitwer, told reporters Monday that drugs and drug paraphernalia apparently belonging to the teen were found at the condo after Hoffman was killed.

Michael Hoffman said that regardless of his son's behavior, the teen was unarmed and didn't deserve to be shot to death.

Detective Brad Boulet testified about Hoffman's 911 call and said when officers arrived at the condo, Layne was inside, behind a screened door.

"She put the gun on the floor after being ordered so by officers," Boulet said. "She exclaimed she had just murdered her grandson."

Ribitwer described her to the judge as a retired teacher who has lived in the West Bloomfield area for 30 years. His requests for a reasonable bond and electronic tether monitor for Layne were denied. A pre-examination conference for Layne was set for Thursday morning.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57438943/police-mich-woman-shoots-grandson-8-times/

Grandmother formally charged with murder in teen's shooting

July 12, 2012 at 11:47 am
By Mike Martindale

Pontiac — A West Bloomfield Township woman charged in the May 18 slaying of her teenage grandson appeared Thursday in Oakland Circuit Court for formal arraignment on charges in the death.

Sandra Layne, 74, stood mute before Judge Denise Langford Morris, who entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf and set a Sept. 13 status conference in the case.

Layne is charged with open murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the shooting death of her grandson, Jonathan Hoffman, 17, in their condominium.

The diminutive Layne, dressed in orange jail garb with her arms shackled by belly chains, smiled as several of relatives, including her husband, Fred, waved to her from a front row. She is held in a two-woman cell in the Oakland County Jail without bond.

Outside the courtroom, Layne's attorney, Jerome Sabbota explained to reporters that while his client may be smiling, it masks her internal pain.

"She's in her own hell," said Sabbota. "Her grandson is dead … but she had to defend herself."

Sabbota indicated he will raise self-defense at trial for Layne, who he said will eventually testify.

"She tried everything she could to save that child," he said. "She will tell her story at the appropriate time. This story is very grim."

In previous interviews, Sabbota has said the shooting occurred after a "series of events" with Hoffman, who he described as "not an easy child."

Layne called police to the home in March after Hoffman became aggressive and allegedly threatened to drive a car through the condo. Police calmed everyone down and did not take him into custody at Layne's request, Sabbota said.

Hoffman, who moved in with his grandparents after his parents divorced and left the state, was arrested for marijuana possession and was on probation at the time of his death.

On May 18, Layne had driven Hoffman to a probation meeting where he tested positive for K2, or Spice, a synthetic drug that has resulted in often violent reactions in those who ingest it.

Sabbota said his client and Hoffman argued after the test and the teen feared he was going to jail, planned to run away and demanded money and a car. That argument allegedly escalated to the shooting inside the condo and a 911 emergency call by Hoffman, who reported his grandmother had shot him. During that phone call, Hoffman cries out that his grandmother had shot him again.

During the 911 phone call, obtained by The News, a voice, believe to be Layne, can be heard saying, "Let go, Let go." After the second shooting, she can be heard telling her grandson she will get him a glass of water.

Layne surrendered to police without incident. An autopsy determined Hoffman was wounded five times by a handgun Layne had purchased about a month earlier for her own protection, Sabbota said.

Judge Langford Morris approved a defense request to allow Layne access to a computer in jail. Sabbota later explained it was so his client could listen to the 911 tape and review other physical evidence connected to the incident.

Sabbota said Thursday he is still waiting evidence results being analyzed by the Michigan State Police regarding ballistics, blood splatter, and DNA.

"It's not going to make much of a difference, but you have to have it (evidence)," he said.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120712/METRO02/207120440#ixzz20SAYGMV3

Evidence analysis delays trial for West Bloomfield woman accused of killing grandson

10:55 AM, September 13, 2012
L.L. Brasier, Free Press Staff Writer

A 74-year-old grandmother accused of fatally shooting her grandson in her West Bloomfield home in May likely won’t go on trial until next year because the Michigan State Police crime lab hasn’t yet processed critical evidence like DNA, blood spatter and fingerprints.

Sandra Layne, wearing orange jail garb and shackled to other inmates, smiled briefly at her family in court this morning as her attorney, Jerome Sabbota, sought an adjournment. He said he needed the evidence to launch an effective defense.

Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford Morris ordered a new pretrial date of Nov. 15. Outside the courtroom, Sabbota said that probably won’t give him enough time to review the evidence before the first of the year.

Sabbota said that evidence could be key to clearing Layne.

“Let’s assume he’s got gunshot residue on his hands,” Sabotta said. “That would indicate a struggle.”

Sabbota also said he plans to seek a bond for Layne, a former teacher who has no criminal history, because of the delays. A hearing on the bond has not been set.

“It’s not fair that she sits in jail while the government does its job,” Sabbota said.

Layne is accused of shooting her grandson, Jonathan Hoffman, several times on May 18, even as he pleaded for help with the 911 operator. She is charged with open murder and faces life in prison if convicted.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120913/NEWS03/120913029/sandra-layne-jonathan-hoffman-west-bloomfield-shooting-oakland-county-circuit-court