LAS VEGAS (AP) — A jury started deliberating Monday within the trial of a former Las Vegas-area Democratic politician accused of killing an investigative journalist who prosecutors stated the official blamed for writing tales that destroyed his profession, ruined his repute and threatened his marriage.
“And he did it because Jeff wasn’t done writing,” prosecutor Christopher Hamner stated throughout closing arguments of defendant Robert Telles and the reporter, Jeff German. “It’s like connecting the dots.”
Jurors deliberated for about 4 hours earlier than breaking for the night, to return Tuesday.
Earlier, they despatched the decide a notice searching for extra notice paper and a courtroom technician to indicate them tips on how to zoom in on laptop computer video whereas within the jury room. They remained an hour previous the courtroom’s standard 5 p.m. finish time.
Telles misplaced his Democratic major for a second time period after German’s first tales for the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal in Could 2022 about Telles’ conduct heading an obscure county workplace that handles unclaimed estates. The stories described turmoil and bullying in Telles’ office and a romantic relationship between Telles and a feminine worker.
The day earlier than German was stabbed to dying, Telles realized that Clark County officers have been about to supply German with e-mail and textual content messages that Telles and the lady shared, in response to the reporter’s request for public data. One other story was within the offing, Hamner stated.
“The murder is the very next day … about 15 hours later,” prosecutor Pamela Weckerly stated as she introduced to the jury a timeline and movies of Telles’ maroon SUV leaving the neighborhood close to his house somewhat after 9 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2022, and driving on streets close to German’s house a short while later.
The SUV driver was seen sporting a vibrant orange outfit just like one worn by an individual captured on digital camera strolling to German’s house and slipping right into a facet yard.
“That person stays, lying in wait,” Weckerly stated, taking part in once more a video from a neighbor’s house exhibiting German’s storage door rise and German stroll into the facet yard the place he was attacked simply after 11:15 a.m.
Somewhat greater than two minutes elapse, then the determine in orange emerges and walks down a sidewalk. German doesn’t reappear.
The prosecutor stated the killing was first-degree homicide as a result of proof confirmed it was willful, deliberate and premeditated. Whereas prosecutors didn’t have the homicide weapon, she stated proof was clear that one was used.
Weckerly additionally centered on a textual content message from Telles’ spouse, which he did not reply, asking, “Where are you?” about 45 minutes earlier than proof confirmed German was killed.
Hamner and Weckerly advised the jury they imagine Telles didn’t reply as a result of he left his cellphone — and its potential to trace him — at house.
German’s physique was discovered the subsequent day, and Telles’ DNA was discovered beneath German’s fingernails. When requested concerning the DNA, Telles stated he believed it was planted.
None of German’s blood or DNA was discovered on Telles, in his car or at his house, protection legal professional Robert Draskovich stated Monday, urging the jury to, “Ask yourself what is missing.”
Draskovich launched a brand new clip of video for the primary time, zeroing in on a view of a maroon SUV like Telles,’ seen by means of the passenger window with the shadowed silhouette of a driver on the wheel. The picture was prosecution proof that had not been proven to the jury.
That driver was not Telles, the lawyer stated, noting that his consumer is totally bald.
The jury heard once more about cut-up items of a broad straw hat and a grey athletic shoe discovered at Telles’ home that appeared like ones worn by the individual sporting the orange shirt, which was by no means discovered.
“You are the sole judges of the facts,” Draskovich advised the jury throughout his closing arguments earlier than the panel was pared to 12, broke for lunch and started simply earlier than 2 p.m. to deliberate whether or not they all imagine Telles murdered German.
“I’m not crazy. I’m not trying to avoid responsibility,” Telles advised the jury on Friday to finish his second and closing spherical of self-guided testimony in his protection. “I didn’t kill Mr. German, and I’m innocent.”
The testimony got here the day German would have turned 71. Initially from Milwaukee, he was a revered journalist who spent 44 years overlaying crime, courts and corruption in Las Vegas.
Telles, 47, is an legal professional who practiced civil legislation earlier than he was elected in 2018. His legislation license was suspended following his arrest a number of days after German was killed. He faces as much as life in jail if he’s discovered responsible.
Jurors have been attentive all through the trial, watching Telles within the witness field and the protection desk. He sat Monday along with his forehead creased and his eyes barely squinted at pc pictures in entrance of him as Weckerly and Hamner spoke.
In his testimony, he had named workplace colleagues, actual property brokers, enterprise house owners and police he accused of “framing” him for German’s killing. He stated it was retaliation for his crusading effort to root out corruption he noticed in his workplace of about eight staff dealing with probate property circumstances.
“I am not the kind of person who would stab someone. I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles stated Thursday. “And that’s my testimony.”
The place Telles was when German was killed remained a central focus throughout the trial, as Weckerly and Hamner introduced 28 witnesses and tons of of pages of images, police stories and video.
Telles and 5 different folks testified throughout trial for the protection. No Telles members of the family have been referred to as to the stand or recognized within the trial gallery.
A few dozen German members of the family sat silently collectively within the hushed courtroom on Monday. They declined as a gaggle to remark to The Related Press.
The killing drew widespread consideration. German was the one journalist killed within the U.S. in 2022, based on the New York-based Committee to Defend Journalists. The nonprofit has data of 17 media staff killed within the U.S. since 1992.
