Jurors hear opening arguments in trial of Nevada official accused of murdering journalist

(NEW YORK) — The murder trial of Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing journalist Jeff German in September 2022, began with opening arguments Wednesday.

Telles, 47, was accused of Las Vegas Review Journal Reporter stabbed to death outside his home after an investigation into corruption in his office destroyed his political career and his marriage. German's story detailed the allegedly hostile work environment in Telles' office, including allegations of bullying, retaliation and an “inappropriate relationship” between Telles and a female staffer. Telles denied the allegations.

In her opening statement Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Pamela Weckerly reviewed the timeline of the murder and explained how Telles came to be identified as a suspect.

“Ultimately, this case is not about politics,” Weckerly said. “It's not about alleged inappropriate relationships. It's not about who is a good boss or supervisor or about nepotism in the workplace – it's just about murder.”

Telles was arrested days after German was found dead outside his Las Vegas home. DNA evidence found in Telles' home linked him to the crime scene, according to police, and a straw hat and sneakers — which the suspect was seen wearing on surveillance video — were found cut up in his home.

His DNA was also found on German's hands and fingernails, police said.

Police arrested Telles with stab wounds that they said were not life-threatening.

Telles' attorney, Robert Draskovich, defended his client in his opening statement, noting that he had been framed for German's death.

Draskovich said the “old guard” in the state administrator's office was angry with Telles' efforts to root out and eliminate internal corruption.

He also claimed that because of German's track record of reporting on corrupt figures, other people may have wanted him dead.

“There were others who had much more motives to make it look like [Telles] was the murderer and to carry out the murder because Jeff German was a good reporter – he would ultimately find out the truth,” Draskovich said.

Draskovich said Telles should be presumed innocent because no DNA was found in his car or on his clothing, and said police “never conclusively identified” a car at the crime scene that matched the description of Telles' car as his car.

He also stressed that Telles' cell phone was not found in the area at the time of the murder. Police believe Telles left his cell phone at home during the alleged murder.

Draskovich claimed that his suicide attempt was not due to guilt, but because his “life was falling apart.”

Draskovich praised Telles, went into detail about his career and described him as a “loving father and husband.”

“He is a family man,” said the defense attorney.

Testimony in the Telles case is currently underway and Draskovich has stated that Telles will testify during the trial.

Telles has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and could face life in prison if convicted.

German was the only journalist killed in the United States in 2022. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 67 journalists have been killed worldwide this year.

Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo had previously described the case against Telles as “unusual” and said that “the killing of a journalist was particularly disturbing.”

“It's problematic because this is a journalist. And we expect journalism to be open and transparent and to oversee the government,” Lombardo said. “And when people take it upon themselves to do harm that is associated with that profession, I think it's very important that we put all eyes on it and handle the case appropriately, as we did in this case.”

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