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4 weeks ago
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A Las Vegas politician accused of murdering a journalist who wrote unflattering articles about him took the stand at his trial to profess his innocence.
Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative journalist Jeff German was found fatally stabbed in September 2022, after writing a series of stories about Clark County public administrator Robert Telles, including reporting on an alleged affair between him and a staffer.
Telles was arrested when his DNA was found under German's fingernails. He was charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon against a victim 60 or older.
He has maintained his innocence throughout his two years in custody and reiterated his belief that he was framed when he took the stand on Wednesday.
In a 90-minute plea to the jury, Telles said the ordeal had 'been a nightmare, frankly.'
Robert Telles has maintained his innocence throughout his two years in custody and reiterated his belief that he was framed when he took the stand on Wednesday
Telles' car - a red GMC - matched the vehicle seen on surveillance near the victim's home
'Unequivocally, I am innocent,' he said. 'I did not kill Mr. German.'
Police say they discovered Telles' DNA in German's fingernails, spotted his car near the victim's home and collected clothing that matched the description of the killer inside Telles' home.
Those clothes - namely tennis shoes and a straw hat - had been cut up by the time they were recovered from Telles' home.
'I'm a little nervous. This is a day I've been waiting for for nearly two years,' Telles told the jury on Wednesday.
Telles had to be by the judge to stick to his 'personal knowledge and the facts' rather than express theories and opinion.
He argued that German's injuries, based on what he saw in the photos, must have been the result of someone 'with some kind of training'.
'I'm not personally combat trained,' Telles said.
Police say they uncovered Telles' DNA from German's fingernails, spotted his car near the victim's home and collected clothing which matched the description of the killer inside Telles' home
Those clothes - namely tennis shoes and a straw hat - had been cut up by the time they were recovered from Telles' home
Speaking to the jury, he said his decision to wash his cars was 'just to take his mind off things'
Telles argued he has been 'set up,' and that he 'started to get really scared' when the thought of being framed first occurred to him.
One of the first similarities he said he noticed was the cars. Telles' car - a red GMC - matched the vehicle seen on surveillance near the victim's home.
After the incident, Telles was seen outside of his home washing his car.
Speaking to the jury, he said his decision to wash his cars was 'just to take his mind off things.'
He said the surveillance image police released of the car in question had different rims than his, meaning it was 'clearly not my vehicle.'
In a 90-minute plea to the jury, Telles said the ordeal had 'been a nightmare, frankly'
English (US)