March trial set for grandmother in local teen's shooting death

PONTIAC (AP) -- A March trial has been scheduled for a 74-year-old woman charged in the shooting death of her 17-year-old grandson. Sandra Layne faces first-degree murder and weapons charges in the death of Jonathan Hoffman. She appeared last Thursday in Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac for a hearing. She's scheduled to return to court Feb. 28 for a final pretrial and a tentative March 4 trial date was set. Defense attorney Jerome Sabbota told reporters that Layne's health is deteriorating in jail. He has said the killing was in self-defense. Jonathan was living with Layne and her husband in May in West Bloomfield Township while his mother and father were divorcing and living outside Michigan. Published: Mon, Dec 10, 2012