The Minneapolis man charged with fatally shooting his former partner and then leading police on a monthlong manhunt across the metro area will stand trial on Feb. 17.
Lyle "Ty" Hoffman, 44, appeared in Ramsey County District Court on Monday on one count of second-degree intentional murder, looking thinner than he did when police finally caught up with him near an Arby's drive-through in Shakopee on Sept. 11. Hoffman is charged with shooting Kelly Phillips, 48, on Aug. 11 at an Arden Hills Holiday gas station.
Ramsey County District Court Judge George Stephenson said that attorneys had failed to reach a "resolution," or plea deal, in the case.
Hoffman's attorney, Peter Rainville, and Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Shereen Askalani declined to address questions after the hearing.
Stephenson set a hearing date for Jan. 21 and the February trial date, reserving two weeks for the trial.
About a dozen of Phillips' relatives and friends attended the hearing, including his fiance Nathon Bailey, whom Phillips was scheduled to marry in late August. Hoffman allegedly killed Phillips on the anniversary of his engagement to Bailey. Bailey declined to comment after the hearing.
Hoffman and Phillips, an attorney and Boston Scientific vice president, had dated for several years, and opened Lush nightclub together in northeast Minneapolis. They continued their business partnership after they broke up, but their relationship grew acrimonious. Hoffman was evicted from a duplex Phillips owned and fired from Lush.
Authorities allege that Hoffman shot Phillips at the Arden Hills gas station before fleeing in Phillips' BMW. The men had arrived together.
