A former politician under scrutiny for the killing of a Las Vegas journalist claims his re-election victory would have been assured had the deceased not made damaging revelations.
Robert Telles, 47, has pleaded not guilty to voluntary manslaughter with a deadly weapon in the September 2022 death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.
The defense argues that Telles was framed for the murder because of his efforts to reform his political position, causing discontent among the “Established Order.” Prosecutors accuse Telles, outraged by German’s articles revealing the disarray in his political office, of donning a disguise and hiding near the reporter’s home before stabbing him to death.
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner asked, “Do you believe that if Mr. German had not written these four articles, you would have won the election, correct?” to which Telles responded, “Yes, I believe so.”
Telles admitted that he had hoped to win the primary, but was unsure and was planning to return to probation if he lost. He ultimately finished in third place.
Hamner presented text messages between Telles and a colleague expressing concern about the articles impacting their futures.
Even as Hamner pressed Telles on the evidence presented against him by witnesses, he continued to assert a conspiracy to frame him for the murder, testifying that a professional assassin killed German, fake DNA was planted under German’s fingernails, and his phone was hacked to show images of German’s home.
During the second day of his extensive narrative witnessTelles said he did not destroy a shoe and a hat that resembled those worn by the attacker, but had no explanation for their disappearance.
“I didn’t dismember a shoe and hide it under my couch. I didn’t cut off a hat and hide it in an open door of my toolbox,” Telles said.
After several objections from the prosecutor, which were upheld by the judge, Telles reiterated his innocence.
“I have never committed violence, I have never caused harm to anyone. I did not kill Mr. German. This is my testimony,” Telles said.
Telles said he was at home watching TV on the day of German’s death before going for a walk and going to the gym. He presented his phone logs for that day, saying there was nothing “suspicious” about them.
However, Hamner highlighted an inconsistency between Telles’ phone logs and text exchanges on his wife’s Apple Watch, which included a message from his wife, “Where are you?”
The trial will resume on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Telles suffered a defeat in the 2022 re-election race
German, 69, exposed the dark side of “Sin City” as a journalist, covering mobsters, corrupt officials and dysfunctional government agencies. According to prosecutors, it was his coverage of a relatively unknown bureau controlled by an elected Clark County official that led to his death.
German has written articles about alleged wrongdoing in the Clark County Public Administrator’s office, alleging that Telles had created a toxic work environment and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
In response to the articles, Telles posted on his Campaign website e sent a letter to German calling the allegations “false” and saying that German was trying to “drag me through the mud.” In June 2022, Telles lost the Democratic primary election.
The reporter was found dead with several stab wounds outside his home on Sept. 2, 2022. Just 15 hours before German was killed, Telles received an email regarding a public records request, according to prosecutors.
The indictment states that the killing was “intentional, deliberate and premeditated” and that it was carried out “in ambush” for German.
CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
