Vance Boelter returns to court again in fight over his own words from jail
Vance Boelter, the man convicted on federal charges for last year's deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers, made a court appearance Friday in his state case.
Boelter, 59, killed DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025. He also shot DFL state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette and targeted their daughter, Hope. The killings sparked a manhunt that lasted 43 hours and ended near Boelter's rural home in Green Isle, Minnesota.
Boelter was sentenced in July to two life terms and an additional 40 years for the attacks.
Judge Juan Hoyos listened to a number of motions filed by Boelter's defense team that challenge the state's prosecution.
Ahead of Friday's hearing, Boelter filed a memorandum opposing the state's motion to preclude his defenses. He previously filed documents telling the court he intends to argue justifiable taking of life, double jeopardy, reasonable use of force, and that the acts were a part of the same behavioral incident — all as reasons he should be found not guilty at trial.
Boelter asked to see the front windows from the Hortman home, arguing that inspecting them could potentially show that police officers, rather than Boelter, fired into the residence during the initial shootout. The officers were cleared of any wrongdoing during the investigation. Boelter's attorneys also asked to see Melissa Hortman's cellphone, believing she may have recorded the encounter.
The Hoffmans were in court, listening to Boelter's defense team. They said the entire hearing is traumatizing for them, especially after the guilty plea in federal court.
"I'm sitting there and I look over at Yvette and the moments were coming back when they said defense. They're going to build a case on defense. Dude showed up at our door dressed as a police officer, gun was pointed in my face as I opened the door. There's no defense to that," said John Hoffman.
"Every detail, he admitted to," said Yvette Hoffman. "So to hear the complete opposite here is 'Twilight Zone'-ish."
The Hoffmans say Boelter's arguments are a mockery of the state court system.
"No family should go through that. To make a comment, and knowing that the Hortman children were watching and listening, no child should go through that. No one should go through what's going on with that," said John Hoffman.
Boelter's defense team is also asking for a change of venue, saying too many people know about the case in Hennepin County. The state responded that the case has garnered national attention, so there's no reason to move it.
The state has filed a protective order to try and keep sensitive personal information in the case from Boelter after the discovery of blog posts he made while incarcerated.
Hoyos will look into those arguments before deciding on any pre-trial rulings. The trial is set for Nov. 2.
Boelter faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony torture of an animal and impersonating a police officer in Hennepin County.