LAS VEGAS — Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles said he wants to proceed with his murder trial instead of obtaining information on the devices of slain Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.
In the weeks leading up to trial, the former elected official accused of fatally stabbing the 69-year-old reporter outside his home in September 2022, remains insistent that he did not kill German.
“Frankly, as for me, I wasn’t upset enough to kill Mr. German,” Telles said in a voicemail left for a Review-Journal reporter this week. “I don’t hold grudges.”
Telles is due in court Wednesday, and his murder trial is scheduled for March 18.
Prosecutors have said that Telles attacked German because he was angry over articles the reporter had written about Telles’ conduct as an elected official. German had uncovered allegations of bullying and hostility within Telles’ office, as well as an alleged “inappropriate relationship” between Telles and a subordinate.
Telles has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge and has claimed that he is both the victim of police misconduct and was framed for German’s killing by a local real estate firm, which has denied the allegation. Prosecutors have pointed to “overwhelming” evidence against Telles, including his DNA that officials said was found underneath German’s fingernails.
Both prosecutors and Telles’ defense attorney, Robert Draskovich, have said that before a trial goes forward, they would prefer to review information on German’s devices that were seized by police after his death.
But Telles insists that he wants to proceed with the trial regardless. He said he does not believe there is any evidence on German’s devices that would help his case, despite not seeing any of the information, and that he does not believe police or the district attorney’s office will give him additional evidence he first requested last year.
“I know my case is ready,” Telles said in a jailhouse interview on Monday.