LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Day 9 of Robert Telles' murder trial continued with a narrative testimony from the defendant and a cross-examination from prosecutor Christopher Hamner that followed.
Telles is the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in September of 2022. Prosecutors believe articles German wrote about Telles were a motive in the killing.
SEE LIVE UPDATES | Jaewon Jung is in the courtroom during the murder trial of Robert Telles
During the continued narrative testimony Thursday, Telles broke down at one point when images of his house after police served a search warrant were shown.
"I'm sorry. I knew I didn't do this thing, but police claimed they had this evidence," Telles told jurors.
Telles ended his testimony by saying he is "not the type of person to stab someone," although this statement was interrupted by several objections by Hamner.
"I've never beat anybody up. I've never killed anybody," Telles said.
Watch Robert Telles' full testimony from the courtroom on Thursday:
After a recess, Hamner began cross-examination on Telles. Because Telles took the stand, he could not plead the fifth and was open to anything Hamner had to ask him.
Hamner asked about everything from articles German had written about Telles to evidence police found in his car and phone and even what he told jurors.
Telles had said the killer looks like a "professional," so Hamner asked why the suspect would wear clothing that stands out and also go back to the crime scene.
"Sir, doesn't that look a little amateurish?" Hamner asked Telles.
At the center of Telles' defense, from the beginning, is the claim that he's being framed by both the police and a private realty group called Compass Realty & Management because he wanted to expose them for alleged bribery.
"The most significant piece of evidence, the murder weapon, is not in your house, despite the theory you're being framed?" Hamner asked.
Telles replies that's correct.
"The best way to take me down would be to frame me for Mr. German's murder," Telles said.
Hamner then asked about articles German wrote about Telles and how he texted his coworker, Nichole Lofton, about the impacts of those stories.
Telles admitted he believed the articles cost him his re-election bid and even said he was upset.
For the first time, he also admitted to being in an affair with Roberta Lee-Kennett, a staffer in the public administrator's office. This was a key piece in German's first article about Telles.
Telles also said he lied to German during an interview about the affair.
"I didn't think it was the public's business," Telles said.
Cross-examination ended with Hamner asking about text exchanges between Telles and his wife the day German was killed.
Hamner also showed evidence that Telles' wife had texted him, "Where are you?" at around 10:35 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2022. The same message was not found on Telles' phone.
Telles said he was home at the time of German's murder but told jurors at the time he got the message from his wife, he was "on a walk."
Cross-examination ended Thursday afternoon. Telles is expected to redirect examination on Friday morning.
