PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) -
A West Bloomfield grandmother charged with murder took the stand in her own defense on Wednesday. Sandra Layne told the judge and jury she believed her grandson was going to hurt her.
"I put down the gun," Layne testified.
"Then what happens?" she was asked.
"And I go over to talk to him," she continued.
"And what happens?" she was asked again.
"And he grabs the gun," she said.
In her own words, Layne finally told her side of the story. In May of 2012, she was driving her grandson home. 17-year-old Jonathan Hoffman had just failed a drug test and tested positive for K2, a violation of his probation. He was fearful he was going to jail.
Layne said he became violently angry, kicking the dashboard and trying to take her car keys.
"I grabbed them. I put them down my shirt because I'm afraid he's going kick me out of the car and take my car," she said.
When they got home, Layne sent her husband to walk the dog. Hoffman was demanding $2,000 cash and Layne's car so he could skip town. When Layne said no, she said her grandson became violent.
"Did he strike you?" she was asked.
"In the head," she said.
The 75-year-old went to get her gun, then went back upstairs to Hoffman's room. They fought again.
"I shot the gun," said Layne.
"How many times did you shoot the gun?" she was asked.
"I don't know," she answered.
After pulling the trigger, Layne said Hoffman chased her, so she hid in the basement and only came out when she thought she heard him calling for help and a glass of water. She said she didn't know if he was shot.
"He was like there is no time. Time, it doesn't exist. It's running and it's screaming and it's scary," she testified.
Layne said her grandson went for the gun one more time.
"Why are you shooting?" she was asked.
"I don't know. You just do. I don't know," she replied.
"Were you still afraid?" she was further asked.
"Yes," she said.
Layne mouthed the words "I love you" to her family when she walked by. She couldn't touch them, but she gazed at them every chance she got.
The prosecution will continue cross examination on Thursday morning.
Sandra Layne testified that her grandson had become violent before she shot him on Wednesday. (Credit: Fox 2 News)
