Closing arguments should happen today and the jury will finally get the case. So what do all of you armchair jurors predict will happen? Will there be a mistrial? How long will the jury be out? What’s the verdict? The Court TV livestream is here.
Two men indicted for damaging rock formations at national recreation area in Nevada. [USAO Press Release]
I keep coming back to this. Boyd couldn’t enforce its own policies and code of conduct, but touts itself as training the next generation of students? Telles sexually assaulted another student who was too terrified to come forward, and he also completely derailed the career of woman who was on the Bar Association. Boyd profs didn’t do a thing.
“But to many of his classmates and employees, Telles used his authority to terrorize, control and prey on women.”
How many Boyd professors troll this blog? Such an easy question to answer: after he had terrorized the woman on the SBA Board-who was not the same woman who he sexually assaulted-they could have simply removed him from the board. That would have been a start. They could have supported all the women whom he terrorized, but instead, they talked to the women about why they didn’t want Telles to sue them, and weird stuff about how removing Rob was the same as a criminal conviction. Basically, they wanted to take the easiest path for themselves.
So the law school administration should’ve interjected itself in the student body’s election of Telles to the SBA Board and taken the decision from them? On what basis? Unless I’ve misapprehended something about the governance structure in place at the time, the student body had mechanisms to remove Telles from the SBA Board, as did the SBA Board itself. I’d say the student body failed Telles’s victims just as much as fellow SBA Board members and the law school administration did.
And you haven’t directly answered the question: In the absence of a cooperating victim who could provide testimony, what do you do? You can support the women all day, but if none of them will provide testimony, what then? You can’t just remove someone from a public school without some evidentiary basis and proper legal predicate.
Telles was a POS then and remains a POS now. But due process still matters.
Ah, there we have it folks the “due process” card. Boyd has a code of conduct which he violated. Boyd didn’t need to conduct a criminal proceeding to determine that he violated the code of conduct. Due process in this case would have been a simple question to *all* of the students–not only the woman he sexually assaulted. “Did he do this behavior?” No one cared enough to take that one simple step.
“Due process” is something that #metoo often poopoos or completely disregards. As it turns out, false accusations of sexual misconduct do happen. Unfortunately, not every wrongly accused individual has the stones or the cash that Johnny Depp has.
We have a fallible system to arbitrate these accusations. That means we will either have guilty people going free, or innocent people imprisoned/canceled/found liable. #MeToo often operates on the assumption that vindicating victims is worth the collateral damage of the latter. As much as I feel for victims, I cannot agree with this. Due process is more important than nailing every perpetrator.
This has nothing to do with #MeToo and everything with Boyd not doing the job it tasked itself to do. They told the women whom he had harrassed and terrorized to quiet down. They did nothing to curb Telles’ behavior. They took the easiest possible route and emboldened a very troubled person.
“They told the women whom he had harrassed and terrorized to quiet down.” Citation?
My understanding is they *did* review everything. They just didn’t do what you wanted (now in hindsight of the murder). I am not a UNLV law administrator, I didn’t even go to school there. I think their writing program is comically overrated. But what you are doing here is ridiculous.
Not only false allegations but no victim willing to come forward so when the lights were turned on it appeared to be nothing more than a whisper campaign.
You misunderstand. We are talking about Telles’s time Boyd when there were allegations of sexual assault and bullying. Yeah there were allegations. But when investigated no one came forward for Boyd to do anything. So everyone knew that there were allegations but no one would bring the evidence forward to the powers that be at Boyd. No one is suggesting (well no one other Telles and Draskovich with this fingers crossed behind his back) that Telles did not kill German. That is not a whisper campaign. That is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
“But when investigated no one came forward for Boyd to do anything.” That’s a flat-out falsehood. Carlos Morales talked to the media about this. Morales saw the assault happen. Boyd made it seem like it was just the woman he assaulted who needed to come forward. That’s not true.
Carlos Morales never said that he personally witnessed it. He stated that there were allegations
that in late August or early September of 2012 that Telles apparently inappropriately touched a first-year law student. Rumors started to spread. It was at a student government meeting at which Telles and Morales were both serving that one unnamed student came forward and asked student government needed to discuss the allegations. The school investigated these allegations.
In fact Morales said in the media that he was not certain if the assault actually occurred but that Telles should have been removed “regardless of if it happened.” So the statement that Carlos Morales witnessed the assault is false.
“ Telles seemed in a celebratory mood, and as the night wore on, he became noticeably drunk and slurred his words, Morales recalls.
He says several people saw what happened next: Telles put his hand on the inner thigh of a first-year law student. “I grabbed him, took him into a corner and berated him,” says Morales, a burly man roughly 120 pounds heavier than Telles.”
Why didn’t the law student who was assaulted come forward? Because she was afraid of the repercussions. The logical question is from whom? Repercussions from whom?
“One woman said that as much as it hurt her to say it, she saw Telles touching the student inappropriately, according to the document. Another testified that she also witnessed what happened.”
Generally speaking, universities, regardless whether its under grad or post grad, seldom thread the needle. They either disregard or minimize, or go postal to the other extreme.
Generally speaking, I wonder (and this is just thinking out loud) if Boyd would have had a different response if the women involved were the daughters of the DA or of other powerful attorneys in town, rather than a first generation law student and daughter of immigrants.
No, it’s just that Boyd faculty are lazy and mostly interested in bringing attention to themselves. In Nevada, women are the majority in the judiciary and legislature. That doesn’t mean sexism, discrimination, and violence against women don’t exists—they most certainly do. But it’s not simply a man’s world anymore. Boyd in some ways is still very behind the times and they should fix that.
Last edited 8 months ago by Anonymous
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 9:18 am
The whole trial is very sad. When Rob took office as Public Administrator in 2019, the world was his oyster. He was young, idealistic and had the potential to do good things and go far. His fall from grace is a testament to the way that little indiscretions can grow into horrific behavior. If Rob had treated his staff well, we wouldn’t be here today. If he had not had an affair – and then lied about it – we may not be here today.
Of course, Rob is no victim in this. The real victim is a guy who woke up, thought it was just another day. He texted his work colleagues about a fantasy football draft. He drove to Robertos to get a burrito for breakfast. This is ordinary, boring shit all of us do here in Vegas. Except this time, Jeff didn’t know this was the last burrito and these were his last texts.
The attack was shockingly gruesome. Even if the death was quick, it was terrible for Jeff. It was not a bullet where, ala the Sopranos, you don’t even hear it. It was a slash to his throat and coratid atery and then a stab to the heart. He was bounced on, like prey in the wild.
As awful as that is, it’s not even the worst of it. Jeff was killed for doing work protected by the First Amendment. Even if the coverage of Rob was unfair, it didn’t matter. Killing journalists to silence them is third world shit. We just don’t allow that to happen in the United States. Rob attacked all of us in that way. I don’t want to live in a town where reporters worry about being jumped like Jeff was.
All of this is to say, fuck you Rob. You deserve to be locked away forever, like the lying, nasty rat that you are. I hope the jury is as disgusted by you as the rest of us.
LOL. Telles didn’t just wake up one day and decide to murder someone. He had a long history of psychopathic behavior. No one listened to the women who complained.
“As awful as that is, it’s not even the worst of it. Jeff was killed for doing work protected by the First Amendment. Even if the coverage of Rob was unfair, it didn’t matter. Killing journalists to silence them is third world shit. We just don’t allow that to happen in the United States. Rob attacked all of us in that way. I don’t want to live in a town where reporters worry about being jumped like Jeff was.”
Let me preface this by saying Telles deserves to burn in prison for the rest of his natural life for this killing. Killing ANYONE to silence them is third world shit. But the view of the world that reporters should not have to worry about repercussions for their work is not a limitless proposition to me. Did the forthcoming story seeking to expose the affair after the election was lost seem like greasy sensational stuff? Yes. Did German get personal in some of his reporting that went beyond the public interest? Yes. Not saying he deserved to die. Not close to that allegation.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 9:19 am
Prediction: The jury will take longer to elect a foreperson than it will to convict Telles of murder.
Even with “overwhelming” evidence, we want the jury to take their time and be methodical and deliberative. It would not bother me if they didn’t come back today.
I think the jury likely wants its freedom. The evidence is overwhelming and most likely made up their minds last week. What we want or wish they would do is not of concern to people who wasted this much of their lives on this case for $80 a day.
The first week of trial moved at a brisk, but thorough pace thanks to the preparation of counsel. Rob’s “narrative” was tedious and would have been painful to listen to as a juror. The rebuttal testimony was also excruciating. I doubt the jury was influenced by anything after the state completed its case in chief. Basically, there was an entire week that added nothing of value for the jury.
If one of the men or women on the jury is alpha enough, Telles might be found guilty before they choose who reads their decision. All it would take is one person asking “I think he is guilty, does anyone have any doubt or can we vote now?”
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 9:43 am
Is he being sentenced by the jury? That’s bad of course but what else can you do. 99.99999999999% chance the judge will give him life without. Maybe change one of those later 9s to an 8 if the jury decides.
I had dinner last night with a retired prosecutor from the DA’s office. He has been watching the trial and thinks from the outset the outcome has always been life without, and would be, with or without Rob’s crazy “narrative” testimony. He also said it won’t matter who sentences him, the jury or the judge, because it’s gonna be life without either way. He said he did want to see Michelle Leavitt provide a rebuke to him based on the gruesome nature of the crime and the positions of trust and privilege that Rob held.
I’ll take it a step further and say that his BEST option, which won’t happen, would be a 20 to life consecutive to another 20 to life, so the possibility of parole after 40 years. And that’s basically life without at this point.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 9:48 am
Does anyone know if the state offered a plea deal that left parole on the table?
WOW!!!! I am speechless. If you are correct, that was very generous of the DA’s office and it takes an incredible amount of stupidity and delusion to reject that deal.
I could see it being true as it’s the ONLY offer that gives Telles an incentive to take a plea, the ONLY offer for the DA to avoid trial. He would never take a 40 to life with the possibility of parole, nor would he plead to life without when the DP is off the table. And the DA would make that deal knowing that he would NEVER get parole at 20 years, and may not get parole at all even with the possibility on the table.
Wtf bro. It’s not stalking I just curious if it’s support, family etc. I’d also like to know who the man and woman are behind the prosecutor table. They look very sad. She has short blondish hair. If you don’t want to tell me fine, didn’t mean to offend.
Among the people who have been regularly seated in the gallery behind prosecutors is Mike Smith, editorial cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun, and his wife, who is Jeff German’s sister.
Who is the creepy pervert stalking unsuspecting women on a law blog?
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 10:21 am
How is this reading of the jury instructions, in the manner in which she is doing it, of any benefit to the jury? She said they’ll have copies, but I know what she is talking about and can barely follow.
10:21 you must not do any trial work. This is always done. But I agree it doesn’t benefit any jury ever. the point is just that it’s on the record.
She should have crossed Rob. She is even keeled and methodical while remaining engaging. She is more disciplined than Hamner. But this is all academic. We’re headed toward an unavoidable life without.
OMG Telle’s face when she points out that the Compass Realty Staff Assassin would have to know he wasn’t going to answer texts or calls during the murder.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 10:57 am
Pam seems like she’s gonna wrap this up pretty quickly, and Draskovich can’t possibly have much to talk about. We could get a verdict right after lunch.
I’m all for brevity but there’s no way you could competently do a closing in a 2-week murder trial in 10 minutes.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:07 am
Looks like Telles is fighting the tears.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:07 am
I don’t like her excuse about the blood not being in the Yukon
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:10 am
Is someone from Compass Realty going to run in at the 11th hour and admit to the killing? Or is Detective Jappe going to storm in Hollywood style and admit to framing him? #StayTuned
Good closing argument – not too long. Not perfect, but none are. Great ending.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 11:13 am
Oh good lord, they’ve only been going for an hour and already a break. They should’ve gone straight into the defense closing.
Guest
Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:18 am
There are a number of holes in State’s case–but do they rise to reasonable doubt? There is no murder weapon that has been found, there is a lack of blood or evidence in the Yukon or Rob’s house/items that show he was connected to German. She says he had pictures of bronze circle earlier on august 12, but then suggested he got German’s address when he looked up his car on the 23rd. How come they could show when he left the neighborhood and when he got to Bronze circle, but nothing of 1.5 hours in between–what was Telles doing then? There is no explanation for how German was lured over to the side of the house. People don’t normally just walk to the side of the house for no reason–what’s the theory there? Why no emphasis on the height of the killer and Rob’s shoe lifts? Clearly, Rob considers the shoe lifts important, but why?
Let me answer your questions one by one
-There is no murder weapon that has been found= He went to Planet Fitness right afterwards which had showers and trash cans. That is where the vest and murder weapon were disposed. That is where Rob Hibiclens’d himself clean.
– When did Telles get German’s address= there are multiple efforts to get German’s address during August 2022 and surveillance photos taken by Telles of cars similar to German’s.
-“How come they could show when he left the neighborhood and when he got to Bronze circle, but nothing of 1.5 hours in between.”= You mean the Ring cameras that show the guy in the orange vest and Rob’s tennis shoes marching all over the neighborhood? They have minute by minute narrative of where Rob/the Killer was.
–How was German lured? Telles goes down the sideyard. German sees something unusual out of his window and comes out through the garage.
–Rob considered the shoe lifts important because he wanted to claim that he wears custom shoes and never wears name brand shoes even though the grey Nikes are on his own phone.
Shoes are what he wore into the gym. The hat was far too large to try and carry into the gym and would not fit in a gym bag. Ditched it in the garage and chopped it up later. Rob said that the vest was the most obvious part of the outfit so getting rid of the vest and the murder weapon were essential.
He was getting rid of it all a little bit at a time. He didn’t want discarded items found so he chopped them into small bits easily concealed in garbage or flushable.
Not a hole at all. Quite the opposite. The chopped up shoe is evidence of concealing a crime.
Not a chance. He ditched the hat because it needed to be chopped up. He needed the Nikes for the alibi of going to the gym. He could chop the Nikes and hat up later and dispose of them later. Not a huge fan of Hamner’s closing but he got it right: these were amateur efforts because Telles did not think that the noose would close that quickly.
If I was on the jury, I would have to hang the jury. I do not feel the State met the burden of beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe he probably did it… but not beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:28 am
For all not working because we can’t look away, here we go folks!
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:30 am
“Telles testified truthfully from the stand about being incarcerated.”
And that’s about all he testified truthfully about
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:30 am
Judge Leavitt said the jury will be sentencing Telles. If Telles is convicted, will he be sentenced today?
They usually break for the day or sometimes a few days. I have seen defendants refuse to waive penalty before trial and then waive after they are found guilty. With how much Telles seems to hate Leavitt, I don’t see that happening here.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 11:36 am
Draskovich is SO good…even when working with NOTHING. Telles should have kept his fat mouth shut.
Absolutely, if Telles had never talked I would have an easier time believing Draskovich’s version, but Telles’ testimony leads me to believe otherwise.
25+ practicing here in town. I am FEELING this close and Bobby D is pretty great. I do not know if we have reasonable doubt with everything we have seen.
Telles’ testimony was totally unhelpful to his case, even pretty detrimental. But the pics of the driver. . . . . .
Rob D did well with closing even with his idiot client testifying and trying to clean that up. Definitely the car and hair photos were effective for reasonable doubt.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 11:46 am
Chicken fried rice!!!!
I can’t believe how much oxygen has been consumed on this. Truly the code red moment of the trial.
“If the killer has hair, my client wasn’t there.”
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 12:15 pm
“I’m going to explain to you why I went so hard.” Then says Telles has a duty to explain the conspiracy. Maybe Hamner, you shouldn’t have been such an abrasive dick.
Also, Hamner is misstating Rob’s testimony about who was involved inthe conspiracy. Rob consistently said, “I can’t rule them out” which is different than saying “yes that person is in on it.”
Also, there is an exhibit, stipulated to, of a probate hearing on an estate where Judge Peterson aggressively attacks Compass during the period where Telles is a “lame duck.” Telles DID continue to pursue Compass as a lame duck. Hamner is again overplaying his hand. If the jury watches that video, they may begin to question Hamner’s credibility.
Hamner argues jury should not speculate and should just rely upon the evidence and then does not rely upon the evidence and instead goes down the rabbit hole of “Well that does not make sense?” Just go exhibit upon exhibit upon exhibit. This closing is hurting me.
Jurors when dealing with doubt don’t want a prosecutor to speculate. “Maybe Telles was thinking this.” “Why didnt he do that?” As a juror, tell me what is certain. Don’t say maybe. Maybe says doubt to me.
Completely disagree. The aggressive approach has been compelling and resonates with jurors.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 12:25 pm
I like Hamner’s style even if I’m in the minority. DA trial teams typically have a good cop/bad cop vibe, and Hamner clearly plays the bad cop really well to Pam’s good cop. IMHO.
Yeah. I’m not sure who keeps slamming him, but I think he did a good job. This is a savage, violent crime. A certain amount of emotion is not only expected, but totally reasonable. Even DAs are not robots.
I understand emotion and passion for German. That was not the tone that Hamner was conveying. He got suckered into the game of “Telles is an idiot, and his stories do not make sense because he did not answer my questions.” Pam kept the focus on 2 people: Jeff and Rob. She was never a character in her closing.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 12:25 pm
The side by side video of him walking is solid evidence in my opinion. Glad to see them use it.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 12:39 pm
If you look up google maps end of silk tassel you can see both of Telles’ car in front of his house.
Before 5:00 p.m. today. Jurors will be home in time for Jeopardy at 7:00 p.m. Category: Not so Famous Murderers: Where the answer for $200 is: The name of the person convicted of killing Jeff German…Question: Robert Telles.
3:45-4:15. Jurors know that it takes time to read the verdict. Poll the jurors. Get to their cars without Kyle Paine chasing them out the door and get home.
The Interwebs tell me Kyle is licensed as an attorney in states other than Nevada. Having been an attorney and now a reporter, all he needs to do is be a used car salesman and he will have hit the trifecta of occupations most hated by the public.
It’s not trolling when it is so obviously a mild attempt at humor. When it was posted the jury was still walking out. The reference to the DA. Relax.
I didn’t care for those either. Juvenile and silly.
But guess what, I kept fucking scrolling.
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Former Attorney
August 26, 2024 1:07 pm
I don’t believe that, I am assuming her location on that date could be proven via work or some other definitive source. I don’t think he could have pinned it on her even if he wanted to.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 1:51 pm
Used to run into German around town at Capriotti’s and Bagel Cafe. Seemed like a down to earth guy who cared about the community. He was approachable and would say hello to anyone he recognized. Rest in peace.
Telles is an asshole; killed a man because the man was doing his job. Hope Telles spends every remaining day of his miserable life behind bars.
That RJ article makes me think that Telles should have been taken out of circulation a long time ago.
You think the mobsters would have hunted down the guy who killed the reporter who was a thorn in their sides? No. On the other hand, Telles would have had a MUCH better alibi that he should not have been the primary suspect.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 2:03 pm
My sister sat on a murder trial a couple of years ago. She said that Hamner was so savvy during her trial. Every time he stood up he buttoned his jacket and the female jurors swooned. Sister is in love with Hamner’s legal mind, she says that he needs to run for judge or senate or something. And Sister says Hamner is hottttt.
To each their own, but her opinion may not be reflective of (many) others. Personally, I find him to be condescending, loud, and overly-impressed with himself. I suppose some go for that, but I find it tiresome and annoying.
If Telles is acquitted, will he be able to walk out of courtroom to the closest bar immediately or are there other steps that would need to occur first? Conversely, if he is convicted, will he immediately but put in handcuffs? He has not been wearing cuffs at trial.
There are other steps, but sometimes an upset judge will order the defendant released forthwith directly from the courtroom. If guilty, he’ll be handcuffed after the jury leaves.
Key piece of evidence – prosecution ignored it. now its reasonable doubt. In regards to the pieces of wood in the bad, if it was part of the hat, the prosecution could have had an expert testify the strands matched. Since they didn’t I think it does not match and the closing argument (if RT is guilty) is grounds for a mistrial.
You can argue the evidence in Closing. Draskovich dropped his bomb regarding interpretation of the photos. Hamner thought he was dropping his bomb regarding the straw in the bag. It is just arguing the evidence which is what Closing is.
The jury just wants to be thorough. Its a big piece of evidence, sure, but so is the fact Telles’ DNA is under German’s fingernails. If you were about to adjudge someone guilty of murder you’d be thorough too.
CourtTV breaks away for ads. About 70% of the time its an Anti Sam Brown ad (which I fine with) but it is always the same doctor talking about abortion rights; her labcoat says she is a colon and rectal doctor.
I subscribe to Youtube and haven’t seen a single ad. You can also watch the district court JAVS type stream without ads. http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/stream1/
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 5:08 pm
From a purely legal perspective, if Draskovich pulls this off this’ll be one of the most impressive acquittals ever (IMO). Maybe even more impressive than the OJ acquittal (at least OJ didn’t get on the stand and make an ass of himself).
From a moral perspective, completely different story.
This will be an amazing accomplishment if Draskovich can pull this off. Pretty sure hung jury is the best he can hope for but even that would be an amazing achievement and perhaps open the door to RT getting a deal rather than another go-round.
I’m not sure you are suggesting it, but if Draskovich pulls this off, there was nothing immoral about what he has done. He will have forced the State to prove its case, and the State could not meet their burden, in spite of overwhelming evidence. In such a scenario, Draskovich will have demonstrated total fidelity to the Constitution, his client, and perhaps most impressively, the Rules of Professional Conduct. Even if Telles is convicted, it was an amazing performance by Draskovich. He’s already well regarded, this can only help him. I would love to watch him defend another murder trial, one where he isn’t working with next to nothing.
My goodness. Some commenters have been saying all along that if Telles took the stand the DA’s case would fall apart. Appears it was a very savvy move by Telles to do so. Will be an acquittal for the ages. And Telles can even brag that he did in fact do it after he is acquitted and there will be nothing they can do about it. Wow wow wow!!
Even people who believe that there is an angle for reasonable doubt found Telles’s testimony self-defeating. Hamner had it right: best witness for the State was in many ways Telles himself.
How was it a savvy move? Anything in his favor came from Draskovich, not Telles. Telles came across like a creepy narcissistic lying loon who would say anything to save his own skin.
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Anonymous
August 26, 2024 6:42 pm
So much reasonable doubt. No one remembers who covered the hands, biased cop, DA fails to show the driver of the car (the hitman) had hair. They didn’t address it. The DA could have tested the wood chips to see if it matched the hat, they failed to do so. Why? Because it didn’t match. The DA failed. The defense deserves to win.
A couple of us have been posting that among non lawyer friends there seems to be about 30% that say framed – remember big distrust of gov in us right now
I keep coming back to this. Boyd couldn’t enforce its own policies and code of conduct, but touts itself as training the next generation of students? Telles sexually assaulted another student who was too terrified to come forward, and he also completely derailed the career of woman who was on the Bar Association. Boyd profs didn’t do a thing.
“But to many of his classmates and employees, Telles used his authority to terrorize, control and prey on women.”
https://www.reviewjournal.com/investigations/a-reporters-killing-revealed-a-decade-of-robert-telles-toxic-behavior-2679171/
Maybe if they had done something–anything–the community wouldn’t be in this mess.
What? Maybe a little more detail or a link?
Playing devil’s advocate for just a bit… in the absence of a cooperating victim, what should the law school have done?
How many Boyd professors troll this blog? Such an easy question to answer: after he had terrorized the woman on the SBA Board-who was not the same woman who he sexually assaulted-they could have simply removed him from the board. That would have been a start. They could have supported all the women whom he terrorized, but instead, they talked to the women about why they didn’t want Telles to sue them, and weird stuff about how removing Rob was the same as a criminal conviction. Basically, they wanted to take the easiest path for themselves.
In other words, Boyd should have done something to demonstrate what Telles did was wrong. Instead, they just emboldened him.
So the law school administration should’ve interjected itself in the student body’s election of Telles to the SBA Board and taken the decision from them? On what basis? Unless I’ve misapprehended something about the governance structure in place at the time, the student body had mechanisms to remove Telles from the SBA Board, as did the SBA Board itself. I’d say the student body failed Telles’s victims just as much as fellow SBA Board members and the law school administration did.
And you haven’t directly answered the question: In the absence of a cooperating victim who could provide testimony, what do you do? You can support the women all day, but if none of them will provide testimony, what then? You can’t just remove someone from a public school without some evidentiary basis and proper legal predicate.
Telles was a POS then and remains a POS now. But due process still matters.
Ah, there we have it folks the “due process” card. Boyd has a code of conduct which he violated. Boyd didn’t need to conduct a criminal proceeding to determine that he violated the code of conduct. Due process in this case would have been a simple question to *all* of the students–not only the woman he sexually assaulted. “Did he do this behavior?” No one cared enough to take that one simple step.
“Due process” is something that #metoo often poopoos or completely disregards. As it turns out, false accusations of sexual misconduct do happen. Unfortunately, not every wrongly accused individual has the stones or the cash that Johnny Depp has.
We have a fallible system to arbitrate these accusations. That means we will either have guilty people going free, or innocent people imprisoned/canceled/found liable. #MeToo often operates on the assumption that vindicating victims is worth the collateral damage of the latter. As much as I feel for victims, I cannot agree with this. Due process is more important than nailing every perpetrator.
This has nothing to do with #MeToo and everything with Boyd not doing the job it tasked itself to do. They told the women whom he had harrassed and terrorized to quiet down. They did nothing to curb Telles’ behavior. They took the easiest possible route and emboldened a very troubled person.
“They told the women whom he had harrassed and terrorized to quiet down.” Citation?
My understanding is they *did* review everything. They just didn’t do what you wanted (now in hindsight of the murder). I am not a UNLV law administrator, I didn’t even go to school there. I think their writing program is comically overrated. But what you are doing here is ridiculous.
What I typed is well documented and it’s been reported in the local news. You are capable of doing your own research.
Not only false allegations but no victim willing to come forward so when the lights were turned on it appeared to be nothing more than a whisper campaign.
Sure, my fellow dudes. Sure. Jeff German’s murder is all part of a life-long “whisper campaign.”
Nobody is suggesting that.
You misunderstand. We are talking about Telles’s time Boyd when there were allegations of sexual assault and bullying. Yeah there were allegations. But when investigated no one came forward for Boyd to do anything. So everyone knew that there were allegations but no one would bring the evidence forward to the powers that be at Boyd. No one is suggesting (well no one other Telles and Draskovich with this fingers crossed behind his back) that Telles did not kill German. That is not a whisper campaign. That is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.
“But when investigated no one came forward for Boyd to do anything.” That’s a flat-out falsehood. Carlos Morales talked to the media about this. Morales saw the assault happen. Boyd made it seem like it was just the woman he assaulted who needed to come forward. That’s not true.
Carlos Morales never said that he personally witnessed it. He stated that there were allegations
that in late August or early September of 2012 that Telles apparently inappropriately touched a first-year law student. Rumors started to spread. It was at a student government meeting at which Telles and Morales were both serving that one unnamed student came forward and asked student government needed to discuss the allegations. The school investigated these allegations.
In fact Morales said in the media that he was not certain if the assault actually occurred but that Telles should have been removed “regardless of if it happened.” So the statement that Carlos Morales witnessed the assault is false.
“ Telles seemed in a celebratory mood, and as the night wore on, he became noticeably drunk and slurred his words, Morales recalls.
He says several people saw what happened next: Telles put his hand on the inner thigh of a first-year law student. “I grabbed him, took him into a corner and berated him,” says Morales, a burly man roughly 120 pounds heavier than Telles.”
Why didn’t the law student who was assaulted come forward? Because she was afraid of the repercussions. The logical question is from whom? Repercussions from whom?
“One woman said that as much as it hurt her to say it, she saw Telles touching the student inappropriately, according to the document. Another testified that she also witnessed what happened.”
Generally speaking, universities, regardless whether its under grad or post grad, seldom thread the needle. They either disregard or minimize, or go postal to the other extreme.
Generally speaking, I wonder (and this is just thinking out loud) if Boyd would have had a different response if the women involved were the daughters of the DA or of other powerful attorneys in town, rather than a first generation law student and daughter of immigrants.
I’d have to imagine a difference in this hypothetical case would be cooperative victims.
Perhaps, although there were multiple witnesses to the assault and multiple witnesses to the bullying and intimidation. But who knows, right?
It’s a man’s world even after me too
No, it’s just that Boyd faculty are lazy and mostly interested in bringing attention to themselves. In Nevada, women are the majority in the judiciary and legislature. That doesn’t mean sexism, discrimination, and violence against women don’t exists—they most certainly do. But it’s not simply a man’s world anymore. Boyd in some ways is still very behind the times and they should fix that.
The whole trial is very sad. When Rob took office as Public Administrator in 2019, the world was his oyster. He was young, idealistic and had the potential to do good things and go far. His fall from grace is a testament to the way that little indiscretions can grow into horrific behavior. If Rob had treated his staff well, we wouldn’t be here today. If he had not had an affair – and then lied about it – we may not be here today.
Of course, Rob is no victim in this. The real victim is a guy who woke up, thought it was just another day. He texted his work colleagues about a fantasy football draft. He drove to Robertos to get a burrito for breakfast. This is ordinary, boring shit all of us do here in Vegas. Except this time, Jeff didn’t know this was the last burrito and these were his last texts.
The attack was shockingly gruesome. Even if the death was quick, it was terrible for Jeff. It was not a bullet where, ala the Sopranos, you don’t even hear it. It was a slash to his throat and coratid atery and then a stab to the heart. He was bounced on, like prey in the wild.
As awful as that is, it’s not even the worst of it. Jeff was killed for doing work protected by the First Amendment. Even if the coverage of Rob was unfair, it didn’t matter. Killing journalists to silence them is third world shit. We just don’t allow that to happen in the United States. Rob attacked all of us in that way. I don’t want to live in a town where reporters worry about being jumped like Jeff was.
All of this is to say, fuck you Rob. You deserve to be locked away forever, like the lying, nasty rat that you are. I hope the jury is as disgusted by you as the rest of us.
LOL. Telles didn’t just wake up one day and decide to murder someone. He had a long history of psychopathic behavior. No one listened to the women who complained.
You can see the mental illness in his eyes.
Now he can use his psychopathic skills in prison I guess.
Agreed. The faces he keeps making in court and the look in his eyes is creepy. Definitely not right in the head.
“As awful as that is, it’s not even the worst of it. Jeff was killed for doing work protected by the First Amendment. Even if the coverage of Rob was unfair, it didn’t matter. Killing journalists to silence them is third world shit. We just don’t allow that to happen in the United States. Rob attacked all of us in that way. I don’t want to live in a town where reporters worry about being jumped like Jeff was.”
Let me preface this by saying Telles deserves to burn in prison for the rest of his natural life for this killing. Killing ANYONE to silence them is third world shit. But the view of the world that reporters should not have to worry about repercussions for their work is not a limitless proposition to me. Did the forthcoming story seeking to expose the affair after the election was lost seem like greasy sensational stuff? Yes. Did German get personal in some of his reporting that went beyond the public interest? Yes. Not saying he deserved to die. Not close to that allegation.
Prediction: The jury will take longer to elect a foreperson than it will to convict Telles of murder.
Even with “overwhelming” evidence, we want the jury to take their time and be methodical and deliberative. It would not bother me if they didn’t come back today.
I think the jury likely wants its freedom. The evidence is overwhelming and most likely made up their minds last week. What we want or wish they would do is not of concern to people who wasted this much of their lives on this case for $80 a day.
The first week of trial moved at a brisk, but thorough pace thanks to the preparation of counsel. Rob’s “narrative” was tedious and would have been painful to listen to as a juror. The rebuttal testimony was also excruciating. I doubt the jury was influenced by anything after the state completed its case in chief. Basically, there was an entire week that added nothing of value for the jury.
Only thing of value in Rebuttal was “Red Yukon drives in; brown BMW drives out.”
forget coming back today. Closing won’t even be over with today.
If one of the men or women on the jury is alpha enough, Telles might be found guilty before they choose who reads their decision. All it would take is one person asking “I think he is guilty, does anyone have any doubt or can we vote now?”
Is he being sentenced by the jury? That’s bad of course but what else can you do. 99.99999999999% chance the judge will give him life without. Maybe change one of those later 9s to an 8 if the jury decides.
IMO he’s getting life without regardless of who sentences him.
I had dinner last night with a retired prosecutor from the DA’s office. He has been watching the trial and thinks from the outset the outcome has always been life without, and would be, with or without Rob’s crazy “narrative” testimony. He also said it won’t matter who sentences him, the jury or the judge, because it’s gonna be life without either way. He said he did want to see Michelle Leavitt provide a rebuke to him based on the gruesome nature of the crime and the positions of trust and privilege that Rob held.
I’ll take it a step further and say that his BEST option, which won’t happen, would be a 20 to life consecutive to another 20 to life, so the possibility of parole after 40 years. And that’s basically life without at this point.
Does anyone know if the state offered a plea deal that left parole on the table?
They offered him 20 years with parole on the table. He rejected and went for the win.
WOW!!!! I am speechless. If you are correct, that was very generous of the DA’s office and it takes an incredible amount of stupidity and delusion to reject that deal.
If I were DA my closing argument would be “look at this crazy-eyed guy. Fuggettaboutit!” GUILTY in less than 5 minutes.
I don’t even care about the DA’s closing, I am strictly here today to see what Draskovich says LOL.
He is a great lawyer who did a fantastic job with nothing. Much respect for taking this case. Was he appointed, or did RT pay?
He was paid for this.
I seriously doubt this is true given the nature of the crime.
I could see it being true as it’s the ONLY offer that gives Telles an incentive to take a plea, the ONLY offer for the DA to avoid trial. He would never take a 40 to life with the possibility of parole, nor would he plead to life without when the DP is off the table. And the DA would make that deal knowing that he would NEVER get parole at 20 years, and may not get parole at all even with the possibility on the table.
Who is the pretty young woman in the red dress behind the defense table?
Are we really doing this again?
Who is the weirdo who keeps asking about women seated in the gallery?
Wtf bro. It’s not stalking I just curious if it’s support, family etc. I’d also like to know who the man and woman are behind the prosecutor table. They look very sad. She has short blondish hair. If you don’t want to tell me fine, didn’t mean to offend.
Reporter
>just curious if it’s support, family etc.
Why single out one “pretty” person then? Be better.
Among the people who have been regularly seated in the gallery behind prosecutors is Mike Smith, editorial cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun, and his wife, who is Jeff German’s sister.
That’s my mom, bro. Relax.
Who is the creepy pervert stalking unsuspecting women on a law blog?
How is this reading of the jury instructions, in the manner in which she is doing it, of any benefit to the jury? She said they’ll have copies, but I know what she is talking about and can barely follow.
No one wants out of there more than Leavitt.
10:21 you must not do any trial work. This is always done. But I agree it doesn’t benefit any jury ever. the point is just that it’s on the record.
Look at Telles face, he knows what is coming.
Never seen him look so defeated
Weckerly is killing this closing.
So glad Pam is doing it. Take the passion and the prejudice out of this. Keep it as simple as it really is.
She should have crossed Rob. She is even keeled and methodical while remaining engaging. She is more disciplined than Hamner. But this is all academic. We’re headed toward an unavoidable life without.
I may be in the minority but I thought Hamner did a great job at the cross.
You are right. You are in the minority. But then no one critiques my cross-examination from television.
OMG Telle’s face when she points out that the Compass Realty Staff Assassin would have to know he wasn’t going to answer texts or calls during the murder.
Pam seems like she’s gonna wrap this up pretty quickly, and Draskovich can’t possibly have much to talk about. We could get a verdict right after lunch.
IMO, she’s belaboring closing. Could have been done in less than 10 mins.
I’m all for brevity but there’s no way you could competently do a closing in a 2-week murder trial in 10 minutes.
Looks like Telles is fighting the tears.
I don’t like her excuse about the blood not being in the Yukon
Is someone from Compass Realty going to run in at the 11th hour and admit to the killing? Or is Detective Jappe going to storm in Hollywood style and admit to framing him? #StayTuned
Tommy Molto was in on it.
He and his cat.
Good closing argument – not too long. Not perfect, but none are. Great ending.
Oh good lord, they’ve only been going for an hour and already a break. They should’ve gone straight into the defense closing.
There are a number of holes in State’s case–but do they rise to reasonable doubt? There is no murder weapon that has been found, there is a lack of blood or evidence in the Yukon or Rob’s house/items that show he was connected to German. She says he had pictures of bronze circle earlier on august 12, but then suggested he got German’s address when he looked up his car on the 23rd. How come they could show when he left the neighborhood and when he got to Bronze circle, but nothing of 1.5 hours in between–what was Telles doing then? There is no explanation for how German was lured over to the side of the house. People don’t normally just walk to the side of the house for no reason–what’s the theory there? Why no emphasis on the height of the killer and Rob’s shoe lifts? Clearly, Rob considers the shoe lifts important, but why?
If the DNA fits, you can ignore the lifts.
Let me answer your questions one by one
-There is no murder weapon that has been found= He went to Planet Fitness right afterwards which had showers and trash cans. That is where the vest and murder weapon were disposed. That is where Rob Hibiclens’d himself clean.
– When did Telles get German’s address= there are multiple efforts to get German’s address during August 2022 and surveillance photos taken by Telles of cars similar to German’s.
-“How come they could show when he left the neighborhood and when he got to Bronze circle, but nothing of 1.5 hours in between.”= You mean the Ring cameras that show the guy in the orange vest and Rob’s tennis shoes marching all over the neighborhood? They have minute by minute narrative of where Rob/the Killer was.
–How was German lured? Telles goes down the sideyard. German sees something unusual out of his window and comes out through the garage.
–Rob considered the shoe lifts important because he wanted to claim that he wears custom shoes and never wears name brand shoes even though the grey Nikes are on his own phone.
Don’t forget, if he got rid of the knife and the vest. Why not get rid of the hat and the shoes?
This is doubt for me. Not reasonable doubt necessarily. But its a hole in the case that I would be pounding on.
Get rid of the items that have blood, keep the ones that don’t?
Weak. They all have DNA on them.
Shoes are what he wore into the gym. The hat was far too large to try and carry into the gym and would not fit in a gym bag. Ditched it in the garage and chopped it up later. Rob said that the vest was the most obvious part of the outfit so getting rid of the vest and the murder weapon were essential.
Still. Keeping them and taking them home is a non sequiter even for a fool. Its a hole.
Add to that the fact that the pics of the Yukon Driver were not even close to looking like Telles.
The pics of the Yukon driver/person in the vest and hat look exactly like Telles.
I see it differently. I see hairs. . . .
Obviously, its a blurry side shot from afar, so it’s only worth so much, but did not look like Telles from there to me….
a’la reasonable doubt
He was getting rid of it all a little bit at a time. He didn’t want discarded items found so he chopped them into small bits easily concealed in garbage or flushable.
Not a hole at all. Quite the opposite. The chopped up shoe is evidence of concealing a crime.
You mean the shoes he wanted to keep for the gym?
Still maintain he would more likely have trashed the hat and the shoes with the knife and the shirt.
Not a chance. He ditched the hat because it needed to be chopped up. He needed the Nikes for the alibi of going to the gym. He could chop the Nikes and hat up later and dispose of them later. Not a huge fan of Hamner’s closing but he got it right: these were amateur efforts because Telles did not think that the noose would close that quickly.
If I was on the jury, I would have to hang the jury. I do not feel the State met the burden of beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe he probably did it… but not beyond a reasonable doubt.
For all not working because we can’t look away, here we go folks!
“Telles testified truthfully from the stand about being incarcerated.”
And that’s about all he testified truthfully about
Judge Leavitt said the jury will be sentencing Telles. If Telles is convicted, will he be sentenced today?
No.
They usually break for the day or sometimes a few days. I have seen defendants refuse to waive penalty before trial and then waive after they are found guilty. With how much Telles seems to hate Leavitt, I don’t see that happening here.
Draskovich is SO good…even when working with NOTHING. Telles should have kept his fat mouth shut.
Draskovich going to double what he charges after this.
This closing is great. I’m already voting not guilty.
I buy reasonable doubt. The Big D is going to make himself a legend today.
he’s good, but i’m not sure i’m getting to reasonable doubt territory with it.
Definitely not, which is why I said Telles should have kept his mouth shut.
Absolutely, if Telles had never talked I would have an easier time believing Draskovich’s version, but Telles’ testimony leads me to believe otherwise.
100%…I think Draskovich could have at least hung the jury if Telles hadn’t testified.
It only takes one juror to buy it though.
I’m a lawyer in town and phoned it in like the rest. Not now. I couldn’t say guilty with a clear conscience. Draskovich is the man.
25+ practicing here in town. I am FEELING this close and Bobby D is pretty great. I do not know if we have reasonable doubt with everything we have seen.
Telles’ testimony was totally unhelpful to his case, even pretty detrimental. But the pics of the driver. . . . . .
Rob D did well with closing even with his idiot client testifying and trying to clean that up. Definitely the car and hair photos were effective for reasonable doubt.
Chicken fried rice!!!!
I can’t believe how much oxygen has been consumed on this. Truly the code red moment of the trial.
I can’t believe how much time Hamner wasted on this in rebuttal. Stupid.
LOOK at profile? That looks like HAIR!
Solid argument, Bobby!
or a hoodie
My first thought too. From the passenger side, maybe. Not the driver’s side pics.
If there’s hair on this head, someone else made the victim dead.
If the driver’s locks are thick, it just won’t stick- you must acquit!
If the driver has a fro, then let Telles go – NOT GUILTY!
Hamner doing closing rebuttal.
Not fatal but I think that is a mistake.
Great call, splitting the close. Hamner focusing on the Telles testimony and the “conspiracy”.
Definitely a mistake. So smug, so abrasive, so condescending. Weckerly’s even demeanor is so much more persuasive.
I think they both serve a purpose.
Keeps saying “Hey I asked him questions.” Dont make your closing about you and what a great job you did. Let the witnesses and exhibits star.
If the driver has hair, you must be aware.
“If the follicles appear, the suspect’s near.”
“If the killer has hair, my client wasn’t there.”
“I’m going to explain to you why I went so hard.” Then says Telles has a duty to explain the conspiracy. Maybe Hamner, you shouldn’t have been such an abrasive dick.
Also, Hamner is misstating Rob’s testimony about who was involved inthe conspiracy. Rob consistently said, “I can’t rule them out” which is different than saying “yes that person is in on it.”
Hamner overplaying his hand again, unnecessarily.
That said, Rob is guilty.
Yeah this is the least effective of the three closings. Giving too much oxygen to a ridiculous conspiracy.
Also, there is an exhibit, stipulated to, of a probate hearing on an estate where Judge Peterson aggressively attacks Compass during the period where Telles is a “lame duck.” Telles DID continue to pursue Compass as a lame duck. Hamner is again overplaying his hand. If the jury watches that video, they may begin to question Hamner’s credibility.
Hamner argues jury should not speculate and should just rely upon the evidence and then does not rely upon the evidence and instead goes down the rabbit hole of “Well that does not make sense?” Just go exhibit upon exhibit upon exhibit. This closing is hurting me.
Jurors when dealing with doubt don’t want a prosecutor to speculate. “Maybe Telles was thinking this.” “Why didnt he do that?” As a juror, tell me what is certain. Don’t say maybe. Maybe says doubt to me.
Never met the man, so I don’t want to have this to across as a personal attack.
But I am not a fan of his style at all. His counterpart was the far superior of the two.
They both have their uses. The first closing dealt with hard evidence. Hamner handles the personal Telles nonsense.
Sure, but a better attorney would have a more effective style at dealing with the subject
Completely disagree. The aggressive approach has been compelling and resonates with jurors.
I like Hamner’s style even if I’m in the minority. DA trial teams typically have a good cop/bad cop vibe, and Hamner clearly plays the bad cop really well to Pam’s good cop. IMHO.
Agreed.
He’s going on too long though.
Nah. Its pretty clear you don’t like the guy. But let it go. Touch some grass.
I’m listening to every word.
Yeah. I’m not sure who keeps slamming him, but I think he did a good job. This is a savage, violent crime. A certain amount of emotion is not only expected, but totally reasonable. Even DAs are not robots.
I understand emotion and passion for German. That was not the tone that Hamner was conveying. He got suckered into the game of “Telles is an idiot, and his stories do not make sense because he did not answer my questions.” Pam kept the focus on 2 people: Jeff and Rob. She was never a character in her closing.
The side by side video of him walking is solid evidence in my opinion. Glad to see them use it.
If you look up google maps end of silk tassel you can see both of Telles’ car in front of his house.
Not seeing either.
On my Google maps search of Silk Tassel I can ONLY see the Denali (and a “Tutor Doctor” vehicle). Wow.
That was on my phone. When I search Google maps on my laptop you can see the Denali and the BMW, it’s a different street view photo.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4jHZpjduhQiZCFZf8
Photo date: July 2022
Telles’ vehicles are in front of his residence. Easy to identify.
I am aware. I am not the one who commented that he/she didn’t see them…
I was looking at the main page. Not the photos. My mistake.
For me it’s the walk. I can see with my own eyes his specific walk in the two videos. I can’t unsee it.
Okay so it’s 1pm Vegas time and Hamner is done…over/under on when the verdict comes in? I am saying by 4pm at the LATEST, if not even earlier.
Including lunch, 2:45
hung jury – how do you get past the hair in the car? RT is bald. I think this creates reasonable doubt. they go 2-3 days deliberating. = hung jury
It is ridiculous to think the “hair in the car” trumps every other piece of evidence put forward by the state…
it creates reasonable doubt. The killer had hair.
Of which there was NONE at the scene even under Germans fingernails.
It does because there are so many great rhymes.
“If there are locks on the head, the State has misled.”
Dude was wearing a disguise. Sometimes disguises include wigs.
Sometimes disguises include thigh high stockings.
Hoodie.
Possibly in one photo. Not the other.
Before 5:00 p.m. today. Jurors will be home in time for Jeopardy at 7:00 p.m. Category: Not so Famous Murderers: Where the answer for $200 is: The name of the person convicted of killing Jeff German…Question: Robert Telles.
This is all hyperbole. There is no way we get a verdict today. My prediction is late morning tomorrow.
3:45-4:15. Jurors know that it takes time to read the verdict. Poll the jurors. Get to their cars without Kyle Paine chasing them out the door and get home.
The Interwebs tell me Kyle is licensed as an attorney in states other than Nevada. Having been an attorney and now a reporter, all he needs to do is be a used car salesman and he will have hit the trifecta of occupations most hated by the public.
VERDICT IN – Telles Not Guilty – DA Resigns
Go away troll. Jury just started deliberation.
It’s not trolling when it is so obviously a mild attempt at humor. When it was posted the jury was still walking out. The reference to the DA. Relax.
Replace the word “mild” with “poor” and you are on to something.
Relax. It was funny. Just because you didn’t find it so, does not affect your ability to give a thumbs down and keep fucking scrolling.
Yeah bc the blog is full of comedy critics where “if hair not there “ paraphrasing was the catch of the day.
I didn’t care for those either. Juvenile and silly.
But guess what, I kept fucking scrolling.
I don’t believe that, I am assuming her location on that date could be proven via work or some other definitive source. I don’t think he could have pinned it on her even if he wanted to.
Used to run into German around town at Capriotti’s and Bagel Cafe. Seemed like a down to earth guy who cared about the community. He was approachable and would say hello to anyone he recognized. Rest in peace.
Telles is an asshole; killed a man because the man was doing his job. Hope Telles spends every remaining day of his miserable life behind bars.
That RJ article makes me think that Telles should have been taken out of circulation a long time ago.
Vegas is soft now. No way a guy like Telles would have gotten away with that stuff in the 70’s ore even in the early 80’s.
I miss old Vegas.
In the 70’s and 80’s, there were no ring cameras or DNA. So there is a very decent chance someone could have gotten away with this back then.
You think the mobsters would have hunted down the guy who killed the reporter who was a thorn in their sides? No. On the other hand, Telles would have had a MUCH better alibi that he should not have been the primary suspect.
My sister sat on a murder trial a couple of years ago. She said that Hamner was so savvy during her trial. Every time he stood up he buttoned his jacket and the female jurors swooned. Sister is in love with Hamner’s legal mind, she says that he needs to run for judge or senate or something. And Sister says Hamner is hottttt.
To each their own, but her opinion may not be reflective of (many) others. Personally, I find him to be condescending, loud, and overly-impressed with himself. I suppose some go for that, but I find it tiresome and annoying.
I don’t like his style, but the trial watchers making comments online LOVE HIM.
Is this a serious thing? Lmao
Seriously, my sister thinks DA Hamner is a hottie. Everyone has their groupies.
Where are my groupies?????????
I hear ya, 2:59.
Good for her. I dont have groupies and admit to being a common bridge troll.
If Telles is acquitted, what does it mean for wolfson’s future? Will Telles run for DA next?
Jury began deliberations at 1:49 pm. https://x.com/jaewonnews/status/1828175129828040865?s=61
If Telles is acquitted, will he be able to walk out of courtroom to the closest bar immediately or are there other steps that would need to occur first? Conversely, if he is convicted, will he immediately but put in handcuffs? He has not been wearing cuffs at trial.
There are other steps, but sometimes an upset judge will order the defendant released forthwith directly from the courtroom. If guilty, he’ll be handcuffed after the jury leaves.
I’m sure I’m not the first to note that it’s ironic of all the mobsters German knew, a admin allegedly killed him.
Genuine question, if the jury comes back with a verdict past 5:00 PM, will it be read today? Or will it be read tomorrow?
If they reach a verdict today before they are adjourned, the verdict will be read today.
We are at 195 comments as of 3:15 p.m. What is the record for the most comments in a day?
There were 212 comments on the day Dennis was killed.
If we get a verdict today, it will easily blow through 300.
No verdict is coming today.
“Robert Telles Arrested” was only 101.
Not counting thwackage
JURY QUESTION COMING!
Q: Is Mr. Telles 6’5″ or 5’6″? (JK)
https://x.com/cathyrusson/status/1828208764736176355
Will they publish the question?
Nothing on the stream, are the lawyers not back in court yet?
Telles not in the courtroom. Did they have to transport him from across the street?
I bet it’s about hair profiles
They just read the question. It was about chicken fried rice.
JK.
Which should be the title of one of the blawg posts this week.
Chickity China, the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin’
omg I was right
“What’s for lunch tomorrow?”
“How do we focus in on the videos?” Well they aren’t finishing tonight
I think that question helps Telles. They want to see the killer who had a full head of hair
1. Can we have more paper?
2. How do we zoom in on the videos?
Those are the questions.
HOLY SHIT.
I was right, his bald head will save him once again
His bald head and chicken fried rice.
Key piece of evidence – prosecution ignored it. now its reasonable doubt. In regards to the pieces of wood in the bad, if it was part of the hat, the prosecution could have had an expert testify the strands matched. Since they didn’t I think it does not match and the closing argument (if RT is guilty) is grounds for a mistrial.
You can argue the evidence in Closing. Draskovich dropped his bomb regarding interpretation of the photos. Hamner thought he was dropping his bomb regarding the straw in the bag. It is just arguing the evidence which is what Closing is.
Those are the two questions??? OMG. The jurors seem to be expressing doubt.
The jury just wants to be thorough. Its a big piece of evidence, sure, but so is the fact Telles’ DNA is under German’s fingernails. If you were about to adjudge someone guilty of murder you’d be thorough too.
You are entirely correct, still shocking that some little detail like that could have outsized impact
You know jurors generally do not like surprises in Closing. This applies to the prosecution and the defense. Don’t drop the bomb in Closing.
On the flip side, you can argue it was his only choice.
Show your hand early and you give the State time to come up with an explanation.
Fascinating that Hamner had very little response in rebuttal.
because he is part of the conspiracy
I went back and looked at Draskovich’s stills which show the “hair”. The silhouette looks like a wig.
I think you are spot on
They should feed the jury dinner then push through to 7pm at least
Feed em chicken fried rice
Just a reminder fellow trial lawyers. 2 week murder trial. Jury has been out 3 hours. Just 3 hours. This is not surprising.
I am getting tired of the constant ad in the middle of the stream about abortion from the colorectal doctor.
Wtf? Huh
CourtTV breaks away for ads. About 70% of the time its an Anti Sam Brown ad (which I fine with) but it is always the same doctor talking about abortion rights; her labcoat says she is a colon and rectal doctor.
Dr. Wishnev has gotten as much screen time during this trial as any of the witnesses except for Telles.
Deservedly so.
I subscribe to Youtube and haven’t seen a single ad. You can also watch the district court JAVS type stream without ads. http://www.clarkcountycourts.us/stream1/
From a purely legal perspective, if Draskovich pulls this off this’ll be one of the most impressive acquittals ever (IMO). Maybe even more impressive than the OJ acquittal (at least OJ didn’t get on the stand and make an ass of himself).
From a moral perspective, completely different story.
This will be an amazing accomplishment if Draskovich can pull this off. Pretty sure hung jury is the best he can hope for but even that would be an amazing achievement and perhaps open the door to RT getting a deal rather than another go-round.
I’m not sure you are suggesting it, but if Draskovich pulls this off, there was nothing immoral about what he has done. He will have forced the State to prove its case, and the State could not meet their burden, in spite of overwhelming evidence. In such a scenario, Draskovich will have demonstrated total fidelity to the Constitution, his client, and perhaps most impressively, the Rules of Professional Conduct. Even if Telles is convicted, it was an amazing performance by Draskovich. He’s already well regarded, this can only help him. I would love to watch him defend another murder trial, one where he isn’t working with next to nothing.
Zero chance they get over RTs DNA under Germans fingernails. As many holes as there are, that one cannot be exploited and was not.
Jury didn’t go home at 5?
No. Court allowed them to stay later.
Court TV stream just ended. I’m assuming the jury went home?
Yes jury is done for the day.
My goodness. Some commenters have been saying all along that if Telles took the stand the DA’s case would fall apart. Appears it was a very savvy move by Telles to do so. Will be an acquittal for the ages. And Telles can even brag that he did in fact do it after he is acquitted and there will be nothing they can do about it. Wow wow wow!!
Even people who believe that there is an angle for reasonable doubt found Telles’s testimony self-defeating. Hamner had it right: best witness for the State was in many ways Telles himself.
How was it a savvy move? Anything in his favor came from Draskovich, not Telles. Telles came across like a creepy narcissistic lying loon who would say anything to save his own skin.
So much reasonable doubt. No one remembers who covered the hands, biased cop, DA fails to show the driver of the car (the hitman) had hair. They didn’t address it. The DA could have tested the wood chips to see if it matched the hat, they failed to do so. Why? Because it didn’t match. The DA failed. The defense deserves to win.
I’m not sure I agree… but I can’t say I disagree. Still, Telles is going to prison.
Can’t help but think there is an outlier or two on the jury. This should have been wrapped up yesterday afternoon. OJ part 2?
A couple of us have been posting that among non lawyer friends there seems to be about 30% that say framed – remember big distrust of gov in us right now
Distrust of justice only from non-lawyers? Every week on this blog at least one lawyer posts that the OBC is biased on who is sanctioned.
That has fairly well been proven at this point.
So is NSC. Jimmerson and Leila Hale got public reprimands?
I cannot wait to see the look on Telles’s face when they convict him today and he realizes he will spend the rest of his life in a small cell.