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Closing arguments in the murder trial of Robert Telles begin next week

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Testimony in the murder trial of Robert Telles ended Friday.

Telles is the former Clark County public administrator who is accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German nearly two years ago.

Prosecutors believe that articles German wrote about Telles were a motive for the murder.

WATCH HERE: Former Clark County District Attorney David Roger weighs in on the status of the case — including juror questions, Telles' comments and what we can expect next.

Former Clark County District Attorney comments on status of Robert Telles murder trial

On Friday, retired Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Clifford Mogg was called back to the witness stand.

Prosecutor Christopher Hamner questioned him about the photos of the messages on Telles' wife's Apple Watch and the fact that they appeared to have been deleted from Telles' phone.

Mogg testified that he had been informed that the data on Telles' phone had been deleted.

Telles then began his re-testification before the jury, stating again that he believed the blame was being placed on him.

“I am innocent,” Telles insisted. “I am not the type of person who would brutally murder another human being.”

Hamner continued to question Telles on Friday and cast doubt on his statements, which now had to be carefully examined by the public prosecutor.

“Isn't there a slide from August 1 to August 31 that talks about location data on your phone?” Hamner asked. “That was a blank slate, right?”

The focus of Friday's testimony was Telles' description of the events on the day of German's murder.

Telles told jurors Wednesday that he made chicken fried rice for his daughter using a Google recipe on the day of German's murder.

SHOW MORE | FOLLOW OUR LIVE UPDATES ON THE PROCESS HERE

He claimed that when he was arrested, his finger was found to have a deep cut because he had cut his fingertip with a knife while preparing the fried rice.

Hamner recalled Metro Forensic Lab director Matthew Hovanec, who had previously testified about reviewing downloaded data from Telles' phone.

Hovanec told jurors that on the day of German's murder, no results were found on Telles' phone for the terms “recipe” or “fried rice.”

But Telles' lawyer Robert Draskovich countered and asked whether these terms had also been searched on Telles' other electronic devices.

Hovanec answered no.

Channel 13 has received numerous inquiries about Telles' decision to testify.

That's why we talked to criminal defense attorney Malcom LaVergne about the strategy.

“There was no greater witness for the prosecution than Mr. Telles, who decided to stand up and testify on his own behalf,” LaVergne said. “That's the problem with testifying as a defendant. A lot of things can come to light that would not have come to light without Mr. Telles' testimony.”

Telles repeatedly reiterated during his testimony to the jury that “he did not kill Mr. German.”

On Friday, he showed a discouraged and despondent expression on his face.

On the last day of testimony, the jury was seen taking their final notes.

The hearing on Friday ended with a closed meeting of the judge and the lawyers.

The jury could begin its deliberations as early as Monday afternoon.

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