Advertisement

Woman describes shooting, killing grandson

PONTIAC, Mich., March 14 (UPI) -- Jurors asked a Michigan woman Thursday if she was on medication the day she shot her grandson, a killing she says was self-defense.

The jury submitted four questions during Sandra Layne's second day of testimony in Oakland County Circuit Court, the Detroit Free Press reported. They asked how many shots she fired at Jonathan Hoffman, 17, why Layne, 75, got the Glock handgun from her bedroom during her confrontation with the teenager and why she did not call 911 immediately.

Advertisement

Hoffman was living with his grandparents in West Bloomfield when he was killed in May 2012.

Layne testified Wednesday she bought the handgun because she had become frightened of her grandson and some of the friends he brought to the house and that she was "terrified" the day she killed him.

"I was terrified. I wanted to find some place to hide," she said in response to a question on why she hid in the basement and did not call 911. "Somebody else would have done something differently."

Hoffman called 911 to report he had been shot.

Layne began crying as she responded to a question on why she thought having the gun out would calm her grandson: "There are so many of us in this room, and each one of us would have done something different. I didn't know what else to do."

Advertisement

She said she was on medication for diabetes that day. Asked about the details of the shots and who was chasing who, Layne responded that her grandson was chasing her.

Final arguments in the trial could begin Friday. Layne faces a life sentence if she is convicted.

Michigan allows jurors to question defendants directly.

Latest Headlines