Helmrick knows that if he secures an acquittal for Telles, he will become the next David Chesnoff/Oscar Goodman. He's taking the case for free. My understanding is he's going to use an unconventional strategy that the prosecution has never seen before. For example, Telles will take the stand to defense himself. And they will aggressively malign German's reputation so the jury has no sympathy for him.
Helmick's new "Defenders" law firm must be pretty slow on business for him to take this case… I cannot fathom a world where – even after "aggressively maligning" German's reputation – Telles is acquitted. Reports have indicated there is video of the killing. Good luck talking your way past that.
I do not practice civil law, but the idea that Helmick (or anyone else) is going to present a viable defense theory that prosecutors haven't seen before doesn't seem credible. Everything Telles has done since he has been arrested has offended the public- the standoff at his house, the weird smirk at that initial hearing, the jailhouse interviews that seemed to want to relitigate German's articles, use of the public defender when he has assets. I can't imagine anything more offensive than to attack German's credibility and reputation. I seriously doubt that Helmick or any other attorney would actually take this approach.
As far as all this adverse reaction to 11:19's post(that the strategy will be for Telles to take the stand and viciously malign German's reputation to the point where the jury despises the victim), I would point out that I believe 11:19 was attempting some levity and humor, and not really attempting to advance some insider knowledge of the new attorney's supposed secret strategy(which would hardly be too secret if everyone knows of it as soon as the attorney is hired).
Unless 11:19 weighs in and insists that post at 11:19 was meant seriously(which raises a whole new set of baffling questions) we can safely assume that there is no way in Hades that Telles takes the stand, and that destroying the reputation of this viciously murdered journalist(who seems to be beloved by the major local media outlets who will be providing the coverage of the proceedings) would be an absolutely horrific and buffoonish defense strategy.
And even if you got the jury to somewhat dislike the victim, good luck in assembling a jury who, when presented with DNA and other evidence, would conclude that he was clearly murdered by the defendant, but we will acquit the defendant because we no longer like the victim so well. True, some truly bad juries have been assembled, but that would be a shocking result.
So, unless I'm seriously wrong, 11;19 was attempting the concept known as "a joke." How humorous it actually was is a different question altogether.
11:19's post could be serious if Telles intends to employ a self-defense strategy. For example, claiming that German lured Telles to German's house to attack Telles, and Telles simply defended himself. I think German's reputation does come in in that scenario.
It's dumb, but I guess if the strategy is to lure the DC judge into to denying the defense the ability to present their theory of the case, then I guess. It's not a way to win at trial, it's a way to get a conviction overturned on appeal. Whoever gets it better take some time on those motions in limine.
The defense will be that Telles had a side job doing landscape work in the area. German texted him to come over and tell his side of the story for a new article. When Telles arrived, German gloated that he was going to destroy Telles' life and reputation. Telles took this as a physical threat, German made a sudden or suspicious move and so Telles pre-emptively attacked in self-defense. He then panicked and ran. Helmrick will secure the acquittal with this.
German luring Telles to his home indeed makes less than zero sense.
Now if Telles had told German he wanted to meet with him, and that Telles had info. that he believes would cause German to be more sympathetic to Telles in another upcoming article, something like that is possible.
German might view that as an opportunity to further grill, and hopefully trip up, Telles as to the operations within Telles political office.
But such meeting would occur at Telles Office, or German's newspaper office, or even at a Starbucks or something. It would not occur at 2:00 a.m. on the remote, inconspicuous side of German's private home.
And although Telles has strong motives to attack German(blames him for ruining his career, his marriage, essentially his life) German has no real rage or potential explosive animus toward Telles, who German probably views as just another in a long line of elected officials who German has shone a light on and exposed in some fashion.
Guest
Anonymous
October 25, 2022 6:21 pm
Attorneys that file BK the night before a trial need punched in the throat.
11:21 here. We can bifurcate family court cases. My client got divorced and got custody of the kid. Only the property division got stayed, but tell me how you outmaneuvered me, sucka.
1236 here: That would've been nice to know from the original post. Overnight BK in a family law case, not nearly as consequential. Take the few extra weeks and lift the stay to adjudicate the community property. I have done that many times as well.
I assumed the best. That it was a large commercial lit case. Always fun.
Guest
Anonymous
October 25, 2022 7:31 pm
Dunkley's sentence seems harsh to me. 4-10 years for stealing 600k? I mean Graham got 16 years for stealing 16 million. Especially if he already did 350 days downtown. That should count as double time IMO. Also, the link up there is wrong, had to google it.
2:20, while that is a good punishment, disbarment is permanent. That's why the bar suspends people and extends suspensions so frequently. Its now permanent.
Is it? I don't know much about the Binion trial, but I can't imagine it had the same overwhelming evidence this case has. Plus, didn't the Binion trial have some crazy stuff like silver buried out in Pahrump, etc?
Highly doubtful. Binion murder occurred when Vegas was much smaller and, from what I know, shocked the entire town. Contrast that with today, when a large portion of our local population doesn't even know Telles, or care anything about him, and don't keep up with local happenings. I mean, how many people under 45 watch the local news? And, while I've seen some national coverage of the story, I've seen zero outrage on anything other than a very small scale, including within the media and journalists.
Binion had a casino executive with his last name on a hotel, a hot blonde defendant, a Will Ferrell-esque accomplice, high profile defense counsel, district attorneys looking to make their bones for bigger things and most importantly a grandstanding trial judge who would do anything to be on TV. Telles's case will have none of those things. This is like comparing the sun and a flashlight and saying that they are both bright.
https://justinjoneslies.com/
Helmrick knows that if he secures an acquittal for Telles, he will become the next David Chesnoff/Oscar Goodman. He's taking the case for free. My understanding is he's going to use an unconventional strategy that the prosecution has never seen before. For example, Telles will take the stand to defense himself. And they will aggressively malign German's reputation so the jury has no sympathy for him.
Why would a homicide victim's reputation be relevant?
Only if you're a non-lawyer who believes what you see on law and order
Helmick's new "Defenders" law firm must be pretty slow on business for him to take this case… I cannot fathom a world where – even after "aggressively maligning" German's reputation – Telles is acquitted. Reports have indicated there is video of the killing. Good luck talking your way past that.
If this is actually Helmrick's strategy, I can't wait to watch the Telles trial unfold.
I do not practice civil law, but the idea that Helmick (or anyone else) is going to present a viable defense theory that prosecutors haven't seen before doesn't seem credible. Everything Telles has done since he has been arrested has offended the public- the standoff at his house, the weird smirk at that initial hearing, the jailhouse interviews that seemed to want to relitigate German's articles, use of the public defender when he has assets. I can't imagine anything more offensive than to attack German's credibility and reputation. I seriously doubt that Helmick or any other attorney would actually take this approach.
If this goes capital (I don’t think it can) then this guy is not qualified under Rule 250.
Stip to the mins?
I don't think you have to be rule 250 qualified if you are privately retained just appointed
As far as all this adverse reaction to 11:19's post(that the strategy will be for Telles to take the stand and viciously malign German's reputation to the point where the jury despises the victim), I would point out that I believe 11:19 was attempting some levity and humor, and not really attempting to advance some insider knowledge of the new attorney's supposed secret strategy(which would hardly be too secret if everyone knows of it as soon as the attorney is hired).
Unless 11:19 weighs in and insists that post at 11:19 was meant seriously(which raises a whole new set of baffling questions) we can safely assume that there is no way in Hades that Telles takes the stand, and that destroying the reputation of this viciously murdered journalist(who seems to be beloved by the major local media outlets who will be providing the coverage of the proceedings) would be an absolutely horrific and buffoonish defense strategy.
And even if you got the jury to somewhat dislike the victim, good luck in assembling a jury who, when presented with DNA and other evidence, would conclude that he was clearly murdered by the defendant, but we will acquit the defendant because we no longer like the victim so well. True, some truly bad juries have been assembled, but that would be a shocking result.
So, unless I'm seriously wrong, 11;19 was attempting the concept known as "a joke." How humorous it actually was is a different question altogether.
1:10-you are right but 250 is a good standard to use for a post conviction claim of ineffective counsel. Along with similar ABA guidelines.
11:19's post could be serious if Telles intends to employ a self-defense strategy. For example, claiming that German lured Telles to German's house to attack Telles, and Telles simply defended himself. I think German's reputation does come in in that scenario.
Only if his reputation was known to Telles
2:12 why on earth would German lure him to his house to attack him? That makes zero sense.
It's dumb, but I guess if the strategy is to lure the DC judge into to denying the defense the ability to present their theory of the case, then I guess. It's not a way to win at trial, it's a way to get a conviction overturned on appeal. Whoever gets it better take some time on those motions in limine.
The defense will be that Telles had a side job doing landscape work in the area. German texted him to come over and tell his side of the story for a new article. When Telles arrived, German gloated that he was going to destroy Telles' life and reputation. Telles took this as a physical threat, German made a sudden or suspicious move and so Telles pre-emptively attacked in self-defense. He then panicked and ran. Helmrick will secure the acquittal with this.
German luring Telles to his home indeed makes less than zero sense.
Now if Telles had told German he wanted to meet with him, and that Telles had info. that he believes would cause German to be more sympathetic to Telles in another upcoming article, something like that is possible.
German might view that as an opportunity to further grill, and hopefully trip up, Telles as to the operations within Telles political office.
But such meeting would occur at Telles Office, or German's newspaper office, or even at a Starbucks or something. It would not occur at 2:00 a.m. on the remote, inconspicuous side of German's private home.
And although Telles has strong motives to attack German(blames him for ruining his career, his marriage, essentially his life) German has no real rage or potential explosive animus toward Telles, who German probably views as just another in a long line of elected officials who German has shone a light on and exposed in some fashion.
Attorneys that file BK the night before a trial need punched in the throat.
Well, at least you can bill the prep time.
Come on, that is the fun part. Drag it out, getting your ducks in a row and them BOOM. File BK. I have done it many times.
You just don't like being outmaneuvered, sucka.
11:21 here. We can bifurcate family court cases. My client got divorced and got custody of the kid. Only the property division got stayed, but tell me how you outmaneuvered me, sucka.
1236 here: That would've been nice to know from the original post. Overnight BK in a family law case, not nearly as consequential. Take the few extra weeks and lift the stay to adjudicate the community property. I have done that many times as well.
I assumed the best. That it was a large commercial lit case. Always fun.
Dunkley's sentence seems harsh to me. 4-10 years for stealing 600k? I mean Graham got 16 years for stealing 16 million. Especially if he already did 350 days downtown. That should count as double time IMO. Also, the link up there is wrong, had to google it.
He already has 17 months CTS and will do a MAYBE another 18 months. He will be back before anyone knows it.
It bothers me more that people spend far more time for a minor third strike than these guys do.
If seeks readmission force him to practice only in Los Angeles Central Division. That will be a life time of punishment.
Personally believe that every attorney who steals from clients and is unable to pay it back ought to get some time.
Crawford paid back his clients so thanks for your opinion, 2:34.
2:20, while that is a good punishment, disbarment is permanent. That's why the bar suspends people and extends suspensions so frequently. Its now permanent.
@244
You are correct. But, not for long. Watch for this to change next year.
The Telles trial if it goes to trial (not a guilty plea) is going to be the trial of the 21st Century–bigger than the Binion trial.
Is it? I don't know much about the Binion trial, but I can't imagine it had the same overwhelming evidence this case has. Plus, didn't the Binion trial have some crazy stuff like silver buried out in Pahrump, etc?
Highly doubtful. Binion murder occurred when Vegas was much smaller and, from what I know, shocked the entire town. Contrast that with today, when a large portion of our local population doesn't even know Telles, or care anything about him, and don't keep up with local happenings. I mean, how many people under 45 watch the local news? And, while I've seen some national coverage of the story, I've seen zero outrage on anything other than a very small scale, including within the media and journalists.
Binion had a casino executive with his last name on a hotel, a hot blonde defendant, a Will Ferrell-esque accomplice, high profile defense counsel, district attorneys looking to make their bones for bigger things and most importantly a grandstanding trial judge who would do anything to be on TV. Telles's case will have none of those things. This is like comparing the sun and a flashlight and saying that they are both bright.