Trial for Former Politician in Journalist's Murder
- The trial for a former county official accused of murdering journalist Jeff German is set to begin with jury selection.
- The judge will consider a motion to dismiss the case during the proceedings.
- This high-profile case highlights issues surrounding violence against journalists.
LAS VEGAS — Jury selection is scheduled to commence on Monday in the trial of Robert Telles, a former Las Vegas-area politician accused of murdering investigative journalist Jeff German. The decision was made by a judge on Wednesday, who will also consider Telles' renewed request to dismiss the case entirely. Telles, 47, has been in jail since his arrest in September 2022, shortly after German was found brutally killed at his home. Telles has pleaded not guilty to the charge of open murder, which carries a potential life sentence, although prosecutors are not pursuing the death penalty. Telles has had a tumultuous legal journey, frequently changing defense attorneys and even representing himself at times. His current attorney, Robert Draskovich, emphasized Telles' desire to proceed to trial and share his side of the story. The case has garnered significant attention, particularly due to the nature of German's reporting, which was critical of Telles' conduct while in office. Prosecutors allege that German's articles serve as a motive for the alleged murder. The trial's progress has been further complicated by a legal dispute involving the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which sought to protect the confidentiality of German's sources during police investigations. The newspaper argued that the First Amendment and Nevada state law shielded the identities and unpublished materials on German's devices from disclosure. An attorney for the Review-Journal assured the court that the review process would be completed in time for the trial proceedings.