Robert Telles faces cross-examination in murder trial

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Robert Telles now faces cross-examination after returning to the witness stand Thursday morning to complete his testimony in his own murder trial.

Telles was called to testify on Wednesday as part of his defense. He told jurors he was innocent of the 2022 murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German.

His attorney, Robert Draskovich, obtained permission to allow Telles to testify “in narrative form,” meaning Telles could speak without the standard question-and-answer format.

During his testimony on Wednesday, Telles claimed that a real estate firm conspired to remove him from his post after he began investigating corruption in the public administrator's office.

Telles continued to maintain his innocence on Thursday, telling jurors he was not angry about German's article. At one point he began to cry when photos were shown of his home being ransacked after the police raid.

Prosecutors may cross-examine Telles later Thursday afternoon. Before the lunch break and away from the jury, the two sides argued over the admissibility of messages exchanged between Telles and Roberta Lee-Kennett, Telles' former employee in the state administrator's office.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Hamner told Judge Michelle Leavitt that some of the messages were “romantic” in nature and should be admitted as evidence. Prosecutors called Lee-Kennett as a witness last week, but her testimony did not address a possible relationship between the two.

Telles is accused of stabbing German in retaliation for a series of articles that accused Telles of fostering a hostile work environment and having an inappropriate relationship with a female employee during his time as Clark County public administrator. Prosecutors said the articles likely led to Telles' defeat in a Democratic primary.

The prosecution concluded its evidence on Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.