Previously-serving politician under scrutiny for alleged murder of Vegas journalist claims victory in re-election would have been secured had not damaging exposés been released by the deceased.
Robert Telles, 47, has pleaded not guilty to murder using a lethal weapon in the September 2022 death of Las Vegas Review-Journal journalist Jeff German.
The defense argues that Telles was set up for the murder due to his efforts to reform his political position, causing dissatisfaction among the "Established Order." Prosecutors accuse Telles, angered by German's articles revealing unrest in his political office, of donning a disguise and hiding near the reporter's home before fatal stabbing him.
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner inquired, "Do you believe if Mr. German had not written these four articles, you would have won the race, correct?" to which Telles responded, "Yes, I do believe that."
Telles admitted that he had hoped to win the primary election, but he wasn't confident, and was planning a return to probate law if he lost. He eventually placed third.
Hamner presented text messages between Telles and a colleague expressing his concern about the articles impacting his future.
Though Hamner pressed Telles on the evidence presented against him by witnesses, he continued to assert a conspiracy to frame him for the homicide, testifying that a professional assassin killed German, fake DNA under German's fingernails was planted, and his phone was hacked to display images of German's home.
During the second day of his extensive testimony narrative, Telles declared he did not destroy a shoe and hat resembling those worn by the attacker, but he had no explanation for their disappearance.
"I did not dismember a shoe and hide it under my couch. I did not cut up a hat and stash it in an open door of my toolbox," Telles stated.
After several objections from the prosecution that were upheld by the judge, Telles once moreaffirmed his innocence.
"I've never engaged in violence, I've never caused harm to anyone. I didn't kill Mr. German. That's my testimony," Telles said.
Telles claimed on the day of German's demise, he was home watching TV before going for a stroll and hitting the gym. He presented his phone logs for that day, stating there was nothing "suspicious" about them.
However, Hamner highlighted an inconsistency between Telles phone records and text exchanges on his wife's Apple Watch, which included a message from his wife asking, "Where are you?"
The trial resumes Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Telles suffered a defeat in the 2022 reelection bid
German, 69, exposed the seedy side of "Sin City" as a journalist, covering mobsters, corrupt officials, and dysfunctional government agencies. According to prosecutors, it was his coverage of a relatively unknown office controlled by an elected Clark County official that led to his death.
German penned articles about alleged wrongdoing in the Clark County Public Administrator's office, claiming that Telles created a toxic work environment and engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
In response to the articles, Telles published posts on his campaign website and sent a letter to German referring to the allegations as "false" and asserting that German was attempting to "drag me through the mud." In June 2022, Telles lost the Democratic primary election.
The reporter was found dead with several stab wounds outside his home on September 2, 2022. Just 15 hours before German was murdered, Telles received an email related to a public records request, according to prosecutors.
The indictment accuses the killing of being "intentional, deliberate, and premeditated," as well as having occurred by "lying in wait" for German.
CNN’s Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
In the context of the text, here are two sentences that contain the word 'us':
Telles responded, "Yes, I do believe that [German's articles impacting his future] would have affected our primary election results."
Hamner presented text messages between Telles and a colleague discussing the potential impact of German's articles on "our future."
