Agonising wait for justice for parents of Australian brothers killed in Mexico
The trial of three Mexican men accused of killing the brothers is entering its final stages, though a verdict may not be reached until next week.
Ensenada, Mexico: The trial of three Mexican men accused of killing Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson in an alleged robbery gone wrong is entering its final stages, though a verdict may not be reached until next week.
The men – Jesús Gerardo, known as “El Kekas”, and two others identified as Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús – have faced court in the coastal Baja California city of Ensenada over the past month .
They are charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery and other offences relating to the deaths of the two Australians, along with their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, while the trio was on a surfing holiday.
A verdict is possible as soon as Thursday (Mexico time), and Australian news outlets have again converged on Ensenada in anticipation.
But state prosecutors told this masthead they would probably seek a short recess in the judge-only trial, which would push the decision into next week.
This masthead understands that Australian officials in Mexico are not expecting a verdict until next week.
The closing stages of the trial were also delayed on Tuesday when the defence opted to push back its cross-examination of certain witnesses, the ABC reported , leading the court to be adjourned after just 20 minutes.
At present, only two further hearings are scheduled, with the trial due to wrap on Thursday.
Debra and Martin Robinson – the parents of Jake and Callum, who were in their early 30s – travelled to Mexico from Perth for the trial.
“We’re doing this because we believe Callum and Jake would want us to be here,” Debra Robinson said outside court at the start of the trial earlier this month.
“We want to find out what happened. We want to find out why,” Martin Robinson said at the time.
The brothers and Rhoad had been camping in a remote beachside area when they were attacked. Their bodies were found dumped in a clifftop shaft days after they went missing, with gunshot wounds to their heads.
Prosecutors alleged the three men were camping in a rural area of Ensenada when the group, allegedly led by “El Kekas”, attacked them in an attempt to steal their ute.
When the victims tried to defend themselves, the attackers allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot them before throwing their bodies down a well.
The girlfriend of “El Kekas” was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year after admitting she had instigated the robbery to steal the ute’s tyres.
The defence has argued there is insufficient evidence to prove the men were responsible for murdering the trio.
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