Hearing planned for woman charged in grandson's death

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP (AP) -- A preliminary hearing is planned for July for a 74-year-old suburban Detroit woman charged in the shooting death of her 17-year-old grandson. Sandra Layne appeared last Thursday in Bloomfield Township District Court. She's being held in the Oakland County Jail on an open murder charge pending the July 2 hearing about whether there's enough evidence to send the case to trial. Jonathan Hoffman was slain May 18 at the condo he shared with his maternal grandparents in West Bloomfield Township, northwest of Detroit. His parents live in Arizona. Police are trying to determine what prompted the shooting. Officers had responded March 21 to an argument between Hoffman and Layne. The prosecutor's wants a competency exam for Layne. Defense lawyer Jerome Sabbota says that's not needed. A judge will decide the issue later. Published: Mon, May 28, 2012