The trial for a former Nevada politician accused of murdering Las Vegas investigative journalist Jeff German is scheduled to kick off on Monday.
According to the Associated Press (AP), jury selection will commence that day in a case that has gained attention due to German’s reputation for uncovering corruption, organized crime, and government scandals.
German, 69, was brutally murdered over Labor Day weekend in 2022, found stabbed outside his home. Authorities believe Robert Telles, then the Clark County Public Administrator, targeted German in retaliation for articles that highlighted issues within Telles’ office.
After surveillance footage linked him to the crime scene, Telles, 47, was arrested mere days following the journalist’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to open murder and is currently being held in jail.
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As jury selection begins, over 100 potential jurors will be assessed, anticipated to take several days, with testimonies expected to wrap up in less than two weeks, according to the AP.
Telles’ defense team has challenged the charges, filing motions to dismiss based on alleged police misconduct during his arrest. Judge Michelle Leavitt is set to hear Telles’ latest motion to dismiss on Monday, although she has denied all previous requests.
Prosecutors have built a strong case against Telles, including DNA evidence found under German’s fingernails and items from Telles’ home matching those seen in the surveillance footage.
This case has attracted national attention as German was the only journalist killed in the U.S. in 2022, amidst a troubling year where 67 media workers were killed globally.
German, who joined the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2010, was celebrated for uncovering critical stories relating to government misconduct. Just before his murder, he was working on a follow-up piece about Telles, who had been accused of misconduct and creating a toxic work environment in his office.
Telles, a 47-year-old Democrat, was elected as Clark County Public Administrator in 2019 and previously founded a law firm in Las Vegas.
German reported Telles had fostered a hostile work climate and had unreasonable favoritism towards a staff member, allegations that Telles has denied.
Telles faces a potential life sentence if convicted. The trial is starting after delays, partly due to a legal battle involving the Review-Journal, aiming to protect the confidentiality of sources found on German’s cellphone and computers, asserting that such information is shielded by the First Amendment and Nevada law, according to the AP.