Testimony wraps up in trial over reporter’s killing
Attorneys finished questioning witnesses Friday in former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles’ murder trial, after he took the witness stand three days in a row to claim he didn’t kill Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German in September 2022.
Closing arguments are expected start Monday.
Testimony from the 47-year-old defendant started Wednesday with a lengthy narration, during which he was not interrupted by questions from his defense attorney, before a prosecutor asked him a series of questions.
On Friday, which would have been German’s 71st birthday, Telles addressed the jury again during the re-direct phase of testimony and then answered more questions from the prosecutor.
Prosecutors also called three rebuttal witnesses for additional testimony on Friday, before the defense rested their case.
“We feel like we presented the very best case we could, given the evidence and the facts and circumstances,” Telles’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, told the Review-Journal after court concluded on Friday.
Telles’ statement to the jury focused on his theory that he was framed for German’s murder by Compass Realty & Management, over an alleged housing kickback scheme he reported to authorities.
“I am not crazy,” Telles said. “I am not trying to avoid responsibility.”
He continued on to tell the jury that he is innocent, and that he’s “not the kind of person who could brutally murder another man.”
Compass Realty has previously called Telles’ accusation “unconscionable and irresponsible” in a statement to the Review-Journal.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Hamner asked follow-up questions of Telles. At one point, Telles brought up Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson’s campaign records involving Compass Realty. Hamner asked if Wolfson was “in on the conspiracy.”
Telles said he can’t “rule it out.”
“At the end of the day, you’re just a victim in this whole thing, is that correct?” Hamner asked as his last question.
“Yes,” Telles said.
Detectives have previously testified that surveillance footage captured the assailant’s maroon GMC Yukon Denali leaving Telles’ neighborhood, driving in German’s neighborhood, and then heading back towards Telles’ home after German was killed.
Metropolitan Police Department homicide detective Justine Gatus testified Friday that surveillance footage showed a BMW, which she said matches another car in Telles’ driveway, driving towards a nearby gym.
Telles has said he checked in to a Planet Fitness gym near his home less than an hour after German was killed.
Prosecutors also called Metro digital forensics laboratory supervisor Matthew Hovanec back to the witness stand to testify about information found on Telles’ phone and work computer. Hamner asked Hovanec several questions about searching Telles’ phone for fried rice recipes, since Telles said he cut his finger before he was arrested when he was making fried rice for his daughter. Hovanec said he found no such recipes on Telles’ phone.
Hamner also asked Hovanec about finding deleted messages on a cell phone. Hovanec testified that the method police use to analyze cell data does not always reveal the contents of deleted text messages.
The line of questioning came after Hamner on Thursday revealed a message prosecutors said Telles’ wife sent him the morning German was murdered, asking Telles: “Where are you?” The message was not found on Telles’ phone.
Hovanec said that the analysis he reviewed cannot conclusively show if the message had been deleted from the phone.
“I can’t say one way or the other,” he told Hamner.
Prosecutors have accused Telles of fatally stabbing German, 69, on Sept. 2, 2022, over articles the journalist had written about Telles’ conduct as an elected official, including allegations he created a hostile work environment and had an “inappropriate” relationship with a staffer.
Hamner questioned Telles for over two hours on Thursday, peppering him with a series of rapid-fire questions, as Telles continued to maintain he was framed for German’s killing.
Telles claimed that evidence was planted on his phone and in his house. He said police officers may have manipulated evidence, and he said he did not know how his own DNA got underneath German’s fingernails.
Telles also admitted lying in an interview with German, about the nature of Telles’ relationship with his employee, Roberta Lee-Kennett.
“We had a romantic affair with each other,” Telles said.
Telles addressed the affair again on Friday, telling the jury that it was a mistake. A juror submitted a question to Telles, asking if his wife had found out about the affair before German was killed.
“She actually did find out beforehand,” Telles said. “I made a mistake and it is what it is.”
Telles’ narrative testimony to the jury has revolved around the alleged housing kickback scheme he reported to authorities.
Metropolitan Police Department detective Derek Jappe testified last week that he investigated both the kickback scheme reported by Telles, and accusations that Telles himself was receiving kickbacks.
Jappe said he found no evidence that Telles received kickbacks, and the Clark County district attorney’s office determined there was not enough evidence for a prosecution in the alleged scheme Telles reported.
The trial is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.