Layne pretrial delayed for prosecution request

Sandra Maxine Layne, the West Bloomfield Township grandmother accused of murdering her 17-year-old grandson, has had her pretrial hearing moved to Nov. 15 by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford-Morris.

Layne was originally in court for a pretrial hearing on Sept. 13, but according to staff in Langford-Morris’ chambers, the prosecution requested additional time to gather forensic evidence.

Layne has already been bound over to stand trial for murder in Jonathan Archer Hoffman’s May 18 shooting death.

Layne faces a charge of open murder, punishable by up to life in prison, and is also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, which carries a maximum of two years in prison upon conviction.

Hoffman was a Farmington Central High School senior who had attended North Farmington High School in the past.

West Bloomfield Township police officers responded on May 18 to the shooting scene, the family’s condominium on Brookview Lane near Maple and Halsted roads. A handgun was found at the scene.

Police reported that there was no one else in the residence at the time of the shooting.