Authorities scrutinize former politician's alternate theory in Vegas journalist's demise: "It lacked coherence"
He accused the real estate firm Compass Realty, his office colleagues, the Las Vegas police, the DNA lab, and prosecutors of colluding to hire a hitman and assassinate the journalist, Jim Thompson, on September 2, 2022, and then fabricate evidence to convict him.
However, during the prosecution's counterargument on Monday, Christopher Hamner dismissed the claim as irrational and told the jury straight, "It doesn't add up."
"It gives you a glimpse into his mindset. That's how highly he regards himself. He believes that all these individuals, these entities, were so eager to take another person's life - not him - just to frame him. Is that plausible? And most importantly, where's the proof?" Hamner said.
Even Telles' own lawyer, Robert Draskovich, didn't fully endorse Telles' conspiracy theory, although he understood his client's perspective.
"It's understandable why he believes in this far-reaching conspiracy. What other options does he have under these circumstances?" Draskovich said in his closing argument.
Following the rebuttal, the jury began deliberations. After deliberating for around four hours, the jury was dismissed for the day and will resume on Tuesday at 9 a.m. PT.
The closing arguments and the rebuttal followed various weeks into the trial of Telles, a 47-year-old former Clark County Public Administrator. He has pleaded not guilty to murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the stabbing death of Thompson, a Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist.
The trial in Clark County took place nearly two years after the murder drew attention to concerns about journalist safety, even in the United States. A total of 14 journalists have been killed in the US since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Thompson, 69, covered the underworld of "Sin City," and his work included exposing mobsters, corrupt officials, and tainted government agencies. Prosecutors claimed it was his reporting on Telles and his obscure office that led to his murder.
Before his death, Thompson had written about allegations of misconduct in the Clark County Public Administrator's office, reporting that Telles fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
Thompson was found dead with numerous stab wounds near his home on September 2, 2022. He was working on a story about Telles at the time of his death, as reported by the Review-Journal.
Trial and closing arguments
Over the last two weeks, prosecutors maintained that Telles murdered Thompson because he was irritated by the articles that exposed turmoil in his political office. As a result, Telles lost his reelection bid in a Democratic primary in June 2022, according to prosecutors.
Months later, while Thompson was working on another story about Telles, the prosecution claimed, Telles disguised himself, waited outside Thompson's home, and fatally stabbed him.
Almost 2 dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, using video and physical evidence to link Telles to the suspect's disguise, a maroon car at the scene, and DNA beneath Thompson's fingernails.
Parts of the disguise - a large sun hat and gray Nike sneakers - were discovered cut into pieces in Telles' residence, prosecutors stated. Investigators also examined Telles' phone and found images of Thompson's home from Google Maps, according to prosecutors.
At the closing arguments on Monday, Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly reviewed the evidence from the case and showed Telles' messages criticizing Thompson's articles.
"He was clearly upset about these articles being published and that it led to his loss in the primary election," Weckerly stated.
The defense alleged that Telles was framed for the murder because he aimed to reform his political office, which upset the "Old Guard." Telles testified in his own defense during the trial and denied any wrongdoing, stating that a real estate company had hired an assassin to kill Thompson and then frame him.
"I've never assaulted anyone, I've never murdered anyone. I didn't murder Thompson. That's my conclusion," Telles said.
During the defense's closing arguments on Monday, Draskovich argued that the prosecution had not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation had not discovered Thompson's blood or DNA in Telles' home, car, or clothing, and investigators had not found the murder weapon or the bright orange vest worn by the suspect, he argued.
On rebuttal, Hamner harshly criticized Telles' conspiracy theory, saying it was illogical and that so many people would agree to kill a journalist in an attempt to frame a lame-duck, small-time politician.
Hamner conceded that Telles' murder plan was "clever" and "methodical" but stated it was overall inept. He also argued that Telles had the motive and the means to kill Thompson, who was working on another article about him.
"He murdered him because Thompson's reporting destroyed his career, it destroyed his reputation, it threatened perhaps his marriage, and exposed things that even he admitted he didn't want the public to know. He did it because Thompson wasn't done writing."
"Hamner also mentioned during his closing arguments that Telles seemed to believe that everyone, including us as the jury, would believe such a far-reaching conspiracy against him, even suggesting that we should question the plausibility of such a scenario."
"In his rebuttal, Hamner addressed Telles' defense team, stating that it was highly unlikely for so many individuals and entities to collude against a lone politician, implying that we, as the jury, should not consider this as a viable option."
