A jury has convicted Robert Telles, a former Nevada politician, of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of investigative journalist, Jeff German.
The verdict, according to BBC, was delivered after a two-week trial, with the jury deliberating for 12 hours before reaching a unanimous decision.
Telles, 47, was found guilty of murdering German, 69, outside his home in September 2022.
Prosecutors presented DNA evidence and security footage linking Telles to the crime, which they alleged was motivated by German’s critical articles about Telles’ behaviour in office.
The same jury sentenced Telles to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
Telles maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming he was framed.
German’s death sparked widespread outrage, with colleagues and advocates highlighting the importance of protecting journalists and holding those in power accountable.
The verdict has been welcomed as a measure of justice for German’s family and the journalism community.
Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom on Wednesday, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson celebrated the jury’s decision.
“The jury hit the ball out of the park this time,” he said. “They hit a home run by getting the right verdict.”
A veteran reporter, Mr German had spent more than four decades covering the city and corruption.
He had one more article to publish about Telles at the time of his death.
Glenn Cook, the executive editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, issued a statement that said the “jury delivered a measure of justice” for Mr German with its verdict.
“Jeff (German) was killed for doing the kind of work in which he took great pride: His reporting held an elected official accountable for bad behavior and empowered voters to choose someone else for the job.”
