EGN NEWS DESK
LAS VEGAS — A jury in Nevada has discovered a Democratic former Las Vegas-area politician responsible of homicide within the killing of an investigative journalist who wrote articles important of his conduct in elected workplace.
Robert Telles hung his head, shaking it barely backward and forward as the decision was learn Wednesday in Clark County District Court. Jurors deliberated for practically 12 hours after listening to eight days of proof in his trial, which started Aug 12.
Telles, 47, has been jailed with out bail since his arrest a number of days after Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German was discovered stabbed to loss of life in a facet yard of his residence over Labor Day weekend 2022.
Jurors now will hear proof within the penalty part of trial earlier than deciding Telles’ sentence.
Prosecutors aren’t looking for the loss of life penalty. Telles faces life in jail with out parole, life with parole eligibility at 20 years, or 20 to 50 years in jail.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson mentioned outdoors the courtroom that he was shocked by the size of time the jury deliberated however is assured jurors rigorously thought of proof.
“The jury hit the ball out of the park this time,” he mentioned. “They hit a house run by getting the correct verdict.”
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Telles denied killing German. He alleged a broad conspiracy of individuals framed him for German’s killing in retaliation for his effort to root out corruption he noticed in his workplace.
“I’m not the type of one that would stab somebody. I didn’t kill Mr. German,” he testified. “And that’s my testimony.”
Telles’ spouse and mom had been within the court docket hallway and spoke with protection lawyer Robert Draskovich and co-counsel Michael Horvath after the decision was learn. They are anticipated to be referred to as as character witnesses throughout the penalty listening to. Prosecutors deliberate to name German’s brother, Jay German, and two sisters, Jill Zwerg and Julie Smith.
Jessica Coleman, a coworker within the troubled county workplace who attended the trial, sobbed as she exited the courtroom after the decision was learn.
“Finally. Finally,” she mentioned. “Finally the system is working.”
Draskovich confirmed the jury a picture throughout closing arguments Monday of an individual whose profile didn’t appear like Telles’ driving a maroon SUV that proof confirmed was key to the crime. He famous that none of German’s blood or DNA was discovered on Telles, in his automobile or at his residence.
He requested jurors to ask themselves, “What proof is lacking?”
Prosecutor Christopher Hamner advised jurors that discovering Telles responsible can be like “connecting the dots” based mostly on overwhelming proof they heard — together with DNA that matched Telles discovered beneath German’s fingernails.
Hamner maintained that German fought to the loss of life together with his attacker and that Telles blamed German for destroying his profession, ruining his status and threatening his marriage.
Telles misplaced his main for a second elected time period after German’s tales appeared within the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May and June 2022. They described turmoil and bullying on the Clark County Public Administrator/Guardian workplace and a romantic relationship between Telles and an worker.
Hamner mentioned Telles discovered from county officers simply hours earlier than German was killed that the reporter was engaged on one other story about that relationship.
Prosecutors offered a timeline and movies exhibiting Telles’ maroon SUV leaving the neighborhood close to his residence slightly after 9 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2022, and driving on streets close to German’s residence a short while later.
The SUV driver is seen carrying a shiny orange outfit much like one worn by an individual captured on digital camera strolling to German’s residence and slipping right into a facet yard the place German was attacked simply after 11:15 a.m.
A bit greater than 2 minutes later, the determine in orange emerged and walked down a sidewalk. German didn’t reappear.
Evidence confirmed Telles’ spouse despatched him a textual content message about 10:30 a.m. asking, “Where are you?” Prosecutors mentioned Telles left his cellphone at residence so he couldn’t be tracked. Telles advised the jury he took a stroll after which went to a fitness center within the afternoon.
German, 69, was a revered journalist who spent 44 years overlaying crime, courts and corruption in Las Vegas. About a dozen of his relations and mates have watched the trial. They’ve declined as a bunch to remark.
Telles is an lawyer who practiced civil regulation earlier than he was elected in 2018. His regulation license was suspended following his arrest.
Weckerly and Hamner offered 28 witnesses and tons of of pages of pictures, police studies and video. Telles and 5 different folks testified for the protection. No Telles relations had been referred to as to the stand or recognized within the trial gallery.
German was the one journalist killed within the U.S. in 2022, in accordance with the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The nonprofit has data of 17 media employees killed within the U.S. since 1992.
Associated Press videographer Ty ONeil contributed to this report.
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