MINNEAPOLIS — The man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, will likely not go on trial until next spring at the earliest due to the complexity of the case.

Vance Boelter appeared in federal court Thursday morning for an arraignment hearing, during which he pleaded not guilty to the battery of charges he faces.

Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, Minnesota, was indicted July 15 on six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations in the shooting deaths of State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the wounding of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. The murder charges could carry the federal death penalty , though prosecutors say that decision is several months away.

During Thursday'

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