Defense Begins Its Case in High-Profile Trial of Former Clark County Official Accused of Murdering Journalist

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

The trial of Robert Telles, the former Clark County Public Administrator accused of murdering investigative journalist Jeff German in 2022, entered a new phase as the prosecution rested its case on Monday. The defense is now taking its turn to present evidence and call witnesses in an attempt to establish Telles’ innocence in the high-profile Nevada murder trial.
The defense, led by attorney Robert Draskovich, began its case by calling Mark Chambers, a clinical psychologist, to the stand. Chambers discussed the psychological impact of being accused of a severe crime, such as murder, and how this can lead to extreme stress, including the possibility of suicide attempts.
“It’s clear from the research that the stress of being accused of a crime, particularly a severe crime, can cause people to commit or attempt suicide whether they’re guilty or not,” Chambers explained during his testimony.
Chambers' role in the trial was to shed light on the psychological state of individuals under severe duress, potentially offering an alternative explanation for Telles' behavior.
However, his testimony was closely examined by prosecutor Weckerly, who questioned how much evidence Chambers had reviewed and whether he had independently verified Telles’ claims. Chambers admitted that he had not corroborated Telles' account with other sources and had not recorded his interviews with Telles, leaving some room for doubt about the thoroughness of his analysis.
“What he’s telling you is his factual version, right?” Weckerly asked, to which Chambers responded, “I would assume so.” This exchange highlighted the prosecution's concerns about the reliability of Chambers' testimony.
Following the lunch recess, the defense called its second witness, Tracy Migliore, who testified about seeing a suspect near Bruce Trent Park, close to the time of Jeff German’s murder. Migliore described the individual she saw as having a matching description to the suspect seen in a video released by the police, including walking “like a man” and carrying a duffel bag.
However, Migliore's testimony was challenged during cross-examination. Prosecutor Weckerly asked for details about where exactly Migliore was when she encountered the suspect, and Migliore struggled to provide a clear answer. Additionally, it was revealed that Migliore’s husband had taken notes on her behalf, rather than Migliore herself, which cast further doubt on the accuracy of her recollection.
The court proceedings on Monday ended earlier than expected due to a travel delay with one of the defense's witnesses, resulting in only two witnesses being called for a total of about two hours of testimony. The court is set to reconvene on Wednesday morning, where the defense is expected to continue presenting its case.
As the trial progresses, the defense will aim to create reasonable doubt about Telles’ involvement in the murder, while the prosecution will continue to emphasize the evidence pointing to Telles as the main suspect. The case has garnered significant media attention, with many closely watching how the defense will navigate the serious charges against Telles in the days ahead.
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