Closing arguments have been heard and the jury has begun deliberations in the Robert Telles murder trial

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A panel of jurors began deliberations Monday in the murder trial of Robert Telles.

Telles is the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September 2022.

Telles has been on trial since August 12, 2024. On Friday, the jury heard all the evidence in the case.

State prosecutors said there was overwhelming evidence linking Telles to the crime, including DNA evidence found under German’s fingernails.

Judge Michelle Leavitt gave instructions to the jury on Monday.

Channel 13 obtained a copy of the jury instructions. There are 32 of them.

Then, prosecutor Pamela Weckerly presented her closing arguments.

Weckerly outlined all the evidence presented during the witnesses’ testimony.

In the end, she stressed that Telles was not part of a conspiracy, as he claims.

“At the end of his testimony, he explained that he was a victim,” Weckerly said. “Or maybe he wasn’t wronged. Maybe he’s the one who’s wrong.”

Telles’ attorney, Robert Draskovich, then presented his closing arguments.

He showed a screenshot of surveillance video showing the Yukon Denali in question in the case.

He said a close-up of the screenshot shows a man with hair, and Telles is clearly bald.

“It is the state’s burden, and the state’s burden alone, to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Draskovich said.

Prosecutor Christopher Hamner then presented a rebuttal to the defense’s closing arguments.

Hamner said the “ever-growing conspiracy” makes no sense.

Telles claims he was framed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and a real estate group called Compass Realty & Management.

But Hamner asked jurors why all these entities, government employees and small business owners would be willing to sacrifice everything to assassinate Jeff German.

Hamner also asked if Metro was involved in a conspiracy to get Telles, why didn’t they just let him die in a bathtub?

During testimony, body camera footage was shown of the moment officers took Telles into custody. At that time, Telles was attempting suicide.

But Hamner points out that it was Detective Derek Jappe who saved his life.

Telles was seen putting his hand to his face, making facial expressions and shaking his head throughout this rebuttal.

Jappe is the Metro intelligence officer investigating allegations of alleged corruption by Telles and Compass Realty & Management at the time of German’s murder.

Jappe attended closing arguments with Detective Taylor Tolliver and Detective Justine Gatus.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson was also present.

German’s family members were also present in the courtroom. They attended all of the hearings of the trial.

The jury began its deliberations at 1:49 p.m. and concluded its day at 5:58 p.m.

The panel continues its deliberations at 9 a.m. Tuesday.