Jurors will begin hearing opening statements on Wednesday in the trial of a Las Vegas politician accused of murdering investigative reporter Jeff German. The journalist, known for his critical articles on the city and its government, was found dead at the age of 69 outside his home, with DNA believed to be from the accused, Robert Telles, discovered under German’s fingernails.
Telles, an elected official who pleaded not guilty to the charges, faces life in prison if convicted. His defense attorney referred to the case as “difficult” but expressed Telles’ eagerness to share his side of the story during the trial. Telles denies the murder accusations, claiming he was framed and criticizing the police’s handling of the investigation.
German’s killing in 2022 garnered national attention, marking him as the only journalist in the U.S. among 69 media workers killed worldwide that year. The articles German wrote about Telles and his involvement in a county office controversy were pointed out by prosecutors as a possible motive for the crime. Telles lost his elected position after the arrest.
The trial’s delayed progress was partly due to legal disputes involving the protection of confidential sources on German’s devices, fought by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, emphasizing the pursuit of justice for German and his family, mentioned that the state of Nevada anticipates achieving justice in this case. Meanwhile, German’s family has chosen not to make any public statements about the tragic incident or the ongoing trial.
