Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

Former Las Vegas Democratic politician Robert Telles, accused of murdering investigative journalist Jeff German, challenges DNA evidence while his whereabouts during the fatal stabbing remain a crucial question.

A former Las Vegas Democratic politician, Robert Telles, took the stand in his murder trial on Thursday, August 22, 2024, contesting DNA evidence presented against him and casting doubt on his whereabouts during the fatal stabbing of investigative journalist Jeff German.

Telles' whereabouts around the time of German's murder in September 2022 have been a central focus of the trial. The prosecution alleges that Telles, a former Clark County administrator of estates, had been enraged by German's critical reporting and had meticulously planned the attack.

Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

However, Telles has maintained his innocence, asserting that a professional assassin committed the murder. He has accused a real estate firm of orchestrating the slaying to frame him for his efforts to combat corruption in his office.

During the cross-examination, prosecutor Christopher Hamner presented a surprise text message from Telles' wife that had vanished from his phone, raising questions about his alibi. The message, sent around the time of German's murder, inquired about Telles' whereabouts.

Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

Hamner also grilled Telles about his lack of response to numerous text, email, and voice messages on the day German was killed. The prosecutor suggested that Telles had intentionally left his phone at home to execute the planned attack.

Telles acknowledged receiving the text messages but claimed to have ignored them. He testified that he had gone for a walk and then to a gym instead. However, Hamner pointed out that cellphone records showed no listing of the text from Telles' wife.

Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

The prosecutor also presented security footage showing a maroon SUV resembling Telles' parked in German's neighborhood around the time of the attack. The vehicle's driver wore an orange outfit and a large straw hat, matching the description of the person seen approaching German's home.

Hamner questioned Telles' assertion that someone else had killed German, asking how his DNA had ended up beneath the journalist's fingernails. Telles suggested that his DNA could have been planted, but admitted that he did not know how cut-up pieces of a straw hat and shoes resembling those worn by the attacker had appeared in his home.

Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

The prosecution also presented evidence that Telles had possessed hundreds of photos of German's home and neighborhood on his phone and computer, including an image of the victim's shoe and a screenshot of a password-protected website showing German's personal information.

Hamner noted that the photo taken on August 23, 2022, just days before German's death, suggested that Telles had been planning the attack. Police also released images of a maroon SUV that had been seen outside Telles' home after the murder, matching the description of the vehicle in the security footage.

Ex-Las Vegas Politician Contests DNA Evidence in Murder Trial of Veteran Journalist, Questions Lingering Mystery

Both sides are expected to deliver closing arguments on Monday, two weeks after the jury selection began. The jury will then deliberate to determine Telles' guilt or innocence in the murder of Jeff German.