LAS VEGAS (CN) — The Clark County Courthouse Tuesday morning was the stage for a significant twist in the murder trial of Robert Telles, a former Clark County public administrator accused of the murder of seasoned Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German, who was found stabbed to death in September 2022.
A death threat voicemail, unrelated to Telles, directed at German prior to his murder added a new layer to the proceedings, potentially influencing the trial's direction. The existence of the voicemail throws a wrench into the prosecution's narrative of premeditation, and suggests alternative motives or culprits, Robert Draskovich, attorney for Telles, told the court.
"I've suggested to the court that we delay the trial to conduct a thorough examination of the evidence," the attorney said. "However, my client, who is currently detained, is adamant about moving forward with the trial as scheduled."
Draskovich said the revelation holds importance because it challenges the prosecution's belief that Telles was motivated by anger or other negative emotions due to German's reporting.
German, 69, known for his investigative journalism, was found murdered in in the front yard of his home in northwest Las Vegas in September 2022. Telles, 45, was charged with executing the fatal assault in October of the same year.
Central to the tension between Telles and German were investigative articles penned by German that highlighted accusations of misconduct and a toxic workplace environment under Telles’ leadership, including purported inappropriate relationships.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Pamela Weckerly emphasized the prosecution's intention to scrutinize the data on German’s electronic devices ahead of the trial. She acknowledged that, if necessary, the trial could proceed without accessing this information.
Weckerly also noted that the defense's previous legal maneuvers — particularly those initiated by Telles before Draskovich took over — had stalled the investigative process by preventing a timely search of the devices. This delay, she argued, potentially hinders the prosecution's ability to address exculpatory evidence effectively before the jury.
Weckerly said, “Prior to Mr. Draskovic's subbing in this Council record, that protocol with the Review Journal conducting the initial search was approved of by Mr. Tellis himself, so if he doesn't like that, that was his decision that he signed off on. We want as much information as possible to present to the jury and so we want to have the devices prior to going to the trial.”
Further elaborating on the procedural backdrop, Weckerly pointed out that the initial agreement regarding the Review-Journal's preliminary review of the devices had Telles' approval. This agreement aimed to ensure that sensitive journalistic materials remained protected while still allowing for the identification of pertinent legal evidence, she said.
Weckerly stressed the importance of having comprehensive access to all relevant information on the devices to ensure a fair trial, underscoring that threats and other critical evidence must be evaluated promptly and thoroughly to serve justice effectively.
She criticized the defense's expectation that the Review-Journal would filter out exculpatory evidence, clarifying that the responsibility to identify such evidence lies with the defense, not the publication.
The state, Weckerly argued, seeks to guarantee that both the defense and prosecution have the opportunity to review the devices fully once journalistic privileges are addressed, thus ensuring that all parties are adequately prepared for trial.
The next status check in the case is scheduled for March 6.
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