LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former Las Vegas-area politician standing trial for the killing of an investigative reporter who wrote articles critical of him spent a…
A former Las Vegas-area politician standing trial for the killing of an investigative reporter who wrote articles critical of him spent a rambling final hour speaking for himself on the witness stand Thursday before abruptly ending his testimony with a declaration that he never killed anyone.
“I am not the kind of person who would stab someone. I would never beat anybody up,” Robert Telles told the jury on his second day of testimony in his trial in the death of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German. He said he went for a walk and to a membership gym during the time on Sept. 2, 2022, that trial evidence and testimony has shown that German was killed.
“I didn’t kill Mr. German,” Telles said. “And that’s my testimony.”
Telles, a former Democratic administrator of a Clark County office that handles unclaimed estates, has spent almost two years in jail since his arrest in German’s killing. He faces the possibility of life in prison if he is convicted of murder with a deadly weapon.
Prosecutors allege Telles killed German because German had authored articles for the Review-Journal about a county office in turmoil under Telles’ leadership, including allegations that Telles had an inappropriate relationship with a female coworker.
Prosecutors Pamela Weckerly and Christopher Hamner asked for a break in proceedings Thursday to prepare for a cross-examination that could prove crucial to the case. Defense attorney Robert Draskovich said that he did not plan to call any additional witnesses.
