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The judge-only trial of three Mexican men charged over the killings of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad is in its final stage in Ensenada, with a verdict possible Thursday but likely next week.
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 in the coastal Baja California city of Ensenada.
Robinson Brothers Murder Trial Nears Verdict
A verdict may not be reached until next week. A verdict is possible as soon as Thursday Mexico time, and Australian news outlets have again converged on Ensenada in anticipation. 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. The three men on trial are Jesús Gerardo, known as El Kekas, and two others identified as Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús.
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. 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. At present, only two further hearings are scheduled, with the trial due to wrap on Thursday.
Earlier in the trial, a witness told the court he was threatened to keep quiet after the Australian brothers were killed in Mexico, with the warning: You are going to end up like the gringos. The Robinson family has attended the trial. We are 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.
Robbery Allegations and Defence Case
We want to find out why, Martin Robinson said at the time. The bodies of the three victims 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. A fourth person was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison last year after admitting she had instigated the robbery to steal the ute tyres. The defence has argued there is insufficient evidence to prove the men were responsible for murdering the trio.
The judge-only trial has drawn attention from Australian media, with reporters returning to Ensenada as the case nears its conclusion. Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.
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theage:Agonising wait for justice for parents of Australian brothers killed in Mexico 
brisbanetimes:Agonising wait for justice for parents of Australian brothers killed in MexicoThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Jake And Callum Robinson Baja California Murder Trial Jack Carter Rhoad Ensenada Ensenada Trial Mexico Robbery Killings Baja California Court El Kekas
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