Key moments from Thursday's testimony in the trial of Robert Telles | Courts

Eight witnesses, including detectives, a medical examiner and former co-workers of the defendant, testified on the fourth day of the murder trial of a man accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 47, is charged with murder with a deadly weapon of a victim over 60 years old. Telles is accused of killing German because the journalist had written articles about Telles' conduct as an elected official and allegations of unrest within the county office.

Here are the three key takeaways from today’s testimony:

Cross-examination of a detective

Former Metropolitan Police Department homicide detective Cliff Mogg was cross-examined by Telles' defense attorney Robert Draskovich.

Mogg said that while analyzing surveillance video that showed the suspect's maroon Yukon Denali in German's neighborhood, he zeroed in on the tailgate, where a license plate should have been. When the vehicle was spotted near German's home, that area of ​​the SUV appeared dark. In the footage showing the vehicle driving away, Mogg noticed a white spot on the back of the SUV that appeared to match a custom license plate on the same Denali that was parked in Telles' driveway when investigators arrived at his home.

“Are you drawing this conclusion based on this picture?” asked Draskovich.

“Oh no,” said the detective. “I was present at the execution of a search warrant at Mr. Telles' residence, where several pieces of evidence were seized. This absolutely confirmed my belief that Mr. Telles' vehicle was the one used in the murder of Jeffrey German.”

A distinctive gait and a familiar vehicle

Real estate agent Zackary Schilling, who helped sell homes through the administration, testified he first met Telles in 2020.

After German's killing, police released images showing the suspect on a sidewalk near the reporter's home and the Denali driving away.

Schilling recognized the suspect’s gait, shoes and vehicle.

“Boy, that really looks like someone I know,” Schilling remembered thinking.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Hamner asked, “Who were you thinking of?”

“I was thinking of Mr. Telles,” said Schilling.

The prosecutor inquired about the suspect's shoes.

“These are the cheap Nikes he always wore,” Schilling testified.

He said he called a colleague, Kristen Riffle, who also testified on Thursday.

“Holy shit. We both agreed that this really did look like Rob Telles,” Schilling testified. “But to come to that conclusion about someone, you have to be pretty sure of yourself.”

Schilling said he was familiar with the stories German had written about Telles and had seen pictures of Denali in the Reno Gazette-Journal.

“It just sent chills down my spine,” Schilling testified. “I just thought, holy shit. I didn't want to believe it, but facts are facts. That was Rob Telles' car.”

Multiple stab wounds

Stephanie Yagi, a medical examiner with the Clark County coroner's office, described the 13 injuries German suffered, including six stab wounds, seven lacerations and a cut to his throat.

Telles seemed to grimace as he looked at the autopsy photos on the screen in front of him.

Yagi told jurors that German also had injuries to his hand, indicating someone who may have been defending himself against an attack.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at [email protected] or 702-383-0240.