News Desk

The Advocate Post: In a dramatic twist in the high-profile trial, Robert Telles, a former Clark County public administrator charged with the murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, asserted in court on Thursday that he is the victim of a conspiracy, adamantly denying any involvement in the crime.

Telles, 47, stands accused of the brutal stabbing of German, a respected Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter, who was found dead outside his home on September 3, 2022. Prosecutors have charged Telles with murder with a deadly weapon against a victim aged 60 or older, a crime that could see him sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

In his testimony, Telles told the jury, “I am not the kind of person who would stab someone. I would never beat anybody up. I didn’t kill Mr. German. And that’s my testimony.”

The trial has garnered national attention, not only because journalist killings are rare in the United States but also because this is the first time a current or former U.S. elected official has stood trial for such a crime.

Prosecutors argue that Telles was motivated by frustration with German’s reporting, which had painted a damning picture of Telles as a tyrannical boss with questionable relationships in his office. The negative press coverage, they suggest, played a role in Telles’ failed reelection bid in 2022, after which he posted a scathing letter online targeting the Review-Journal.

During his two days on the stand, Telles has been allowed to give his testimony in a narrative form, straying from the typical question-and-answer format. He used this opportunity to present an elaborate theory that he had been framed by what he described as a political and social “old guard” in the real estate network, whom he claimed were retaliating against him for his efforts to combat corruption.