LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The prosecution rested its case Monday against a former Clark County politician accused of stabbing a Las Vegas investigative reporter to death in 2022. The defense is expected to call its first witnesses Tuesday in the high-profile Nevada murder trial.

On Monday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Detective Justine Gatus took the stand. She was the lead investigator into the death of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, the murder that former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles stands trial for.

Prosecutor Pam Weckerly questioned Gatus about aspects of the case, including the establishment of Telles as the main suspect. Defense attorney Robert Draskovich detailed transcripts from the day Telles was pulled over in a traffic stop and arrested, including conversations between Gatus, Telles, and LVMPD detective Derek Jappe, who had previously testified in the trial.

Jurors saw numerous images downloaded from Telles’ cellphone that showed Google Maps searches that showed German’s home. There were also images on Telles’ work computer of German’s car, registration, and address.

On day seven of the high-profile trial, the defense will have their turn to call witnesses, aiming to prove Telles didn’t commit the murder.

The defense initially called Mark Chambers, a self-employed clinical psychologist. He detailed his job as a psychologist and what he described as the “science of behavior,” as well as further information on forensic psychology.

Defense attorney Robert Draskovich questioned Chambers about his trial history, expertise, and how defense and prosecution attorneys have utilized him. Draskovich asked Chambers to clarify that the defense did not initially approach him but rather by the prosecution to testify at the Telles trial.

He then addressed suicide and how common it is for individuals who face severe charges to attempt to harm themselves. Chambers said a suicide attempt is not a signifier of a guilty conscience.

“It’s clear from the research that the stress of being accused of a crime, particularly a severe crime, as I said, can cause people to commit or attempt suicide whether they’re guilty or not,” Chambers said.

Upon cross-examination, prosecuting attorney Pam Weckerly questioned Chambers regarding his research into German’s homicide and the case against Telles. Weckerly asked Chambers how much evidence he was privy to and when he interviewed Telles. Chambers said he did not record the interviews and that his written notes could be available when requested. Chambers clarified that they were not requested.

“What he’s telling you is his factual version, right?” Weckerly asked.

“I would assume so,” Chambers replied.

“You don’t ever verify that with anyone else. Is that fair,” she asked.

“I have not,” Chambers answered.

Weckerly questioned those who have attempted suicide being “reliable narrators” of the situation that led them to that choice and the facts surrounding it. Chambers drew focus to some specific allegations toward Telles and how they could cause stress to individuals.

Draskovich followed up by asking about the correlation between evidence and suicidality. Chambers said the correlation was more related to the suspect’s perception of his or her situation. Upon questioning, Chambers said he desired to dispel the connection between suicide and guilt, saying that a suicide attempt was not an admission of guilt. Answering a question from the jury, Chambers said that it was possible for a suicide attempt to be a way for a suspect to garner sympathy. However, Draskovich clarified that Chambers’ thoughts were not specific to the Telles trial.

Just before 11:20 a.m., the court went to recess for lunch. Draskovich told the court to expect two more witnesses on Tuesday.

Just after 1:40 p.m., Tracy Migliore was called to the stand. Draskovich asked her about her identification of a suspect seen near Bruce Trent Park. She described the person she saw, with a matching description to the suspect in Jeff German’s killing as pictured in a video released by police. She said she believed the person she saw walked “like a man” and that the person had a duffel bag.

On cross-examination, State attorney Pam Weckerly asked Migliore for details about where she was in Bruce Trent Park when she encountered the individual. She couldn’t immediately identify the location but did say she saw the man without a mask. Migliore retrieved her notes, prompting the prosecution to ask for a copy of the notes, which the witness said she did not type herself, instead saying that her husband took the notes for her.

Draskovich told the court that there had been a travel delay with one of the witnesses, causing the court to finish for the day just after 2:00 p.m. after only two witnesses were called for approximately 2 hours of testimony. Court will reconvene at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

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Who is Robert Telles?

Robert Telles is a lawyer and former public official with Clark County. According to the county, Telles has lived in the area for at least 20 years. He was the focus of several investigative stories by Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German.

Telles graduated from UNLV’s Boyd School of Law in 2014. One year later he founded Accolade Law, which was located on West Charleston Boulevard between Rancho Drive and Valley View Boulevard and focused on estate planning and probate.

In 2018, Telles first ran for Clark County public administrator as a Democrat. He claimed victory over Republican candidate Thomas Fougere and took office in January 2019 to serve a four-year term, which ended on Jan. 2, 2023. Telles ran for re-election, losing to fellow Democrat Rita Reid.

His campaign was mired in controversy surrounding stories written by the Review-Journal, specifically German, who uncovered claims of bullying and retaliation within his office.

Who was Jeff German?

Jeff German had been an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal since 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered courts, politics, labor, government, and organized crime.

Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal’s executive editor, said German was known to break big stories and develop “impactful investigations across every part of Southern Nevada life.”

German had published several stories about Telles’ office, saying it was in “turmoil” in the months leading up to his stabbing death on Labor Day weekend of 2022. German was found with seven stab wounds, including ones to his neck and torso, according to police documents.