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Jury choice begins Monday for a former Las Vegas-area politician accused of killing an investigative journalist who penned articles important of his workplace.
Robert Telles, a former Democratic Clark County administrator of estates, has remained jailed since his arrest in September 2022, days after Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal reporter Jeff German was discovered slashed and stabbed to demise outdoors his residence over Labor Day weekend 2022.
German, 69, turned the one journalist killed within the U.S. amongst at the least 67 information media staff slain worldwide that yr, in line with the New York-based Committee to Defend Journalists.
Initially from Milwaukee, German had spent 44 years creating deep confidential sources in Las Vegas, its authorities and its courthouses.
He was extensively revered for reporting concerning the courts, organized crime, authorities corruption, political scandals and mass shootings, first on the Las Vegas Solar after which on the Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal.
Prosecutors say articles that he wrote in early 2022 about Telles and a county workplace in turmoil have been a motive for the killing.
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German was discovered slashed and stabbed to demise in a facet yard outdoors his residence, the place Telles is accused in a legal grievance of “mendacity in wait” for German to come back outdoors.
Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, proper, talks to Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal reporter Jeff German in his Las Vegas workplace on Might 11, 2022. (Okay.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal through AP, File)
Telles, 47, was arrested days later, after police circulated video of an individual carrying an orange work shirt and a wide-brimmed straw hat toting a shoulder bag and strolling towards German’s residence.
Police additionally launched photos of a particular maroon SUV like one {that a} Evaluate-Journal photographer noticed Telles washing outdoors his residence a number of days after the killing.
Telles grew up in El Paso, Texas, and lived in Colorado earlier than transferring to Las Vegas. He turned a lawyer in 2015 and ran as a Democrat in 2018 to develop into Clark County administrator of estates. He misplaced his elected place after his arrest and his legislation license was suspended. He has pleaded not responsible to open homicide and will face life in jail if convicted. He has remained jailed whereas getting ready to face a jury.
“It turned all the pieces the wrong way up,” Tom Pitaro, a veteran Las Vegas protection lawyer, instructed The Related Press of German’s demise.
Pitaro additionally taught Telles in legislation faculty a few decade in the past on the College of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“When you have got an office-holder, a revered journalist, and the form of killing it was, I feel individuals are in shock about how this might come about,” Pitaro mentioned.
“He’s been wanting ahead to trial,” Telles’ protection lawyer, Robert Draskovich, mentioned forward of Monday’s proceedings, in line with The Related Press. “He needs to inform his story.”
Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, who’s accused of murdering investigative reporter Jeff German, argues in court docket throughout a listening to on the Regional Justice Middle in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. (Okay.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal, File)
Greater than 100 potential jurors stuffed out questionnaires about what they heard about German’s killing and Telles’ arrest. Interviewing and empaneling 12 jurors and a number of other alternates might take a number of days. Testimony is anticipated to take lower than two weeks. Prosecutors will not be in search of the demise penalty.
First, nonetheless, Clark County District Courtroom Choose Michelle Leavitt will hear a ultimate request on Monday to dismiss the case towards Telles and name off the trial.
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In a court docket submitting, Telles maintains he was illegally detained by police earlier than his arrest, officer body-worn digital camera video of the site visitors cease throughout which he was taken into custody was improperly deleted, and hospital blood exams taken following his arrest and remedy for what he has referred to as self-inflicted slash wounds to his wrists weren’t included as proof in his case.
Leavitt rejected different requests to dismiss the case, whereas Telles employed and fired attorneys and served as his personal protection lawyer. Telles twice tried to have Leavitt faraway from his case, arguing she was biased towards him.
Robert Telles is seen washing his automotive outdoors his residence on Sept. 6, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal through AP, File)
Prosecutors say they’ve robust proof, together with DNA believed to be from Telles discovered beneath German’s fingernails and cut-up items of a straw hat and sneakers discovered at Telles’ home that resembled these worn by the particular person seen on video outdoors German’s residence.
Telles needed his trial to happen shortly, however progress was delayed partly by a authorized battle the Evaluate-Journal took to the state Supreme Courtroom to guard public disclosure of confidential sources on German’s cellphone and computer systems. The newspaper argued names and unpublished materials have been protected against disclosure by the First Modification and Nevada state legislation.
Police argued their investigation wouldn’t be full till the units have been looked for attainable proof. The court docket gave the newspaper, its legal professionals and consultants time to evaluation the information first.
An lawyer representing the Evaluate-Journal instructed the decide final week the evaluation course of shall be accomplished in time to show over data to police, prosecutors and Telles’ legal professionals earlier than jury choice begins.
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Telles additionally needs Leavitt to challenge a ruling blocking testimony at trial a few hostile office and a discrimination lawsuit that 4 ladies have pending in federal court docket towards Telles and Clark County.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox Information Digital masking politics, crime, police and extra. Story suggestions may be despatched to [email protected] and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
Jury choice begins Monday for former Las Vegas-area politician accused of killing investigative journalist
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