Findings from two weeks of testimony in the trial of the murder of a reporter | Courts

Testimony in the murder trial for the killing of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German dragged on for two weeks as jurors heard testimony from detectives, county employees and the defendant himself.

Prosecutors have accused former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles of fatally stabbing German on Sept. 2, 2022, after the journalist wrote articles about Telles' conduct as an elected official. He is accused of “lying in wait” for German outside the reporter's home while wearing an orange safety vest and large straw hat.

During the trial, prosecutors called 28 witnesses. Telles' defense attorney Robert Draskovich called six witnesses, including Telles, before concluding his testimony on Friday, the day German would have turned 71.

Here are the key moments from the eight days of testimony.

'Where are you?'

On the day German was killed, Telles claimed he was home, took a walk and then went to the gym. Prosecutors said surveillance footage showed a maroon Yukon Denali SUV matching the description of one of Telles' cars coming from his neighborhood, being driven into German's neighborhood by the attacker and then driving back to Telles' house.

Telles' phone had remained at home that morning and could receive messages but not send replies, prosecutors said.

Telles said he did not respond to a message from his wife, who sent him a picture around 10:35 a.m. because he was returning from a walk. But prosecutors on Thursday pointed to a second message his wife sent around the same time that was found on his wife's Apple Watch.

“Where are you?” was the message.

The text was not found on Telles' phone. Prosecutors questioned digital forensics expert Matthew Hovanec during his deposition Friday, asking him what it was like to find deleted messages on a cellphone.

Hovanec said that while the Metropolitan Police Department's method of searching cellphone data may not capture all deleted messages, he could not say “one way or the other” whether the message was deleted from Telles' phone.

At the start of the trial, Hovanec testified that 132 downloaded Google Maps images were found on Telles' phone showing German's house and the street he lived on. Telles' work computer also contained information about German's vehicle and address, he said.

Inquiry about the last recordings of the German

Before his murder, German had searched for emails and text messages between Telles and other county officials, including correspondence with his employee, Roberta Lee-Kennett. Telles admitted in court that the two had an affair.

On Friday, in one of Telles' final moments on the witness stand, Assistant District Attorney Christopher Hamner questioned Telles about his concerns about releasing those messages.

“All you know is that Mr. German made a request to your office for his personal records, right?” asked the prosecutor.

“Correct,” replied Telles.

District officials had informed Telles of the release of these documents the day before German's murder.

Telles had previously suggested in the trial that German could not have obtained details about the affair through the records request, but Hamner pointed out that the reporter may have had other sources.

“You can’t say with certainty that German won’t be able to write any more articles, can you?” asked the prosecutor.

“Based on the request for the documents, I assumed he would not do so,” Telles replied.

Telles acknowledged that he knew German was seeking further information, including possible details of the affair.

“You even told your best employee, Nichole (Lofton), 'I'm afraid these articles will jeopardize my chances of getting a job in the future,' is that true?” the prosecutor asked.

“I did,” said Telles.

“You were worried about whether you could even practice law in the city, weren’t you?” Hamner asked.

“The thought occurred to me,” said Telles.

The prosecutor applied further pressure.

“It didn't just occur to you,” Hamner said. “You put it in a private text message to your best employee, right?”

Telles leaned forward and let his chin fall onto his clenched left fist.

“Yes, mmhmm.”

Testimony through narrative

Telles was on the witness stand for three days, testifying before the jury through narration without answering questions from his defense attorney.

In his testimony to the jury, he focused on his theory that he was framed for German's murder by Compass Realty & Management in connection with an alleged housing bribery scheme that he had reported to authorities.

Compass Realty had previously described Telles' accusation as “unconscionable and irresponsible” in a statement to the Review-Journal.

A Metro detective testified that there was not enough evidence to prosecute Telles' allegations. There was also not enough evidence to support a separate allegation that Telles also received bribes.

Telles was cross-examined by Hamner, who asked him rapid questions about Telles' claims, his relationship with German, and his whereabouts on the day German was killed.

“Ultimately, you are just a victim in this whole thing, right?” Hamner asked Telles on Friday.

“Yes,” said Telles.

Surveillance material

Former Metropolitan Police Department Detective Cliff Mogg testified about surveillance footage from the Yukon Denali during the first week of the trial. Mogg pointed out similarities between the attacker's vehicle and the vehicle found in Telles' driveway, including similarly tinted windows and an identical “bright” spot near the windshield.

Mogg said the discovery of Telles' car during the search of his home “absolutely confirmed my belief that Mr. Telles' vehicle was the one used in the commission of the murder of Jeffrey German.”

On Friday, homicide detective Justine Gatus testified about surveillance footage that also showed a BMW, similar to another car owned by Telles, leaving his neighborhood after German's death and driving toward a nearby gym.

Telles said he checked into a nearby Planet Fitness gym less than an hour after the attack on German.

DNA evidence

Telles was arrested on Sept. 7, 2022, after police learned that Telles' DNA was found under German's fingernails, prosecutors said.

Telles said he did not know how his DNA was found on German or how other evidence, including cut-up pieces of a tennis shoe and a cut-up straw hat, were found in his home.

“How on earth did your DNA get under Mr. German's fingernails?” Hamner asked Thursday.

“I don’t know because I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles said.

District employees testify

The only two Clark County Public Clerk's Office employees who testified were Lofton and Lee-Kennett.

Lofton was called by the defense and testified that she experienced “bullying” after German's articles were published, but that Telles never expressed his anger about the articles to her.

In German's articles about Telles, he reported on the allegedly toxic work environment in his office and an “inappropriate” relationship between Telles and Lee-Kennett. Telles told the jury he lied to German about the nature of the relationship and admitted to the affair.

Lee-Kennett testified that she texted Telles after seeing pictures of the attacker's vehicle released by police.

“Damn… your car is identical,” wrote Lee-Kennett Telles.

The lawyers are expected to make their closing arguments on Monday.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at [email protected] or 702-383-0240.