Mexican authorities say Australian brothers killed near beach known for drug-running
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Jesús Gerardo, also known as 'El kekas', Angel Jesús and Ari Grisell were all arrested soon after the killings, while a fourth man – Irineo Francisco – was arrested some time later.
Gerardo, Jesús and Francisco were charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery, grand theft auto and forced disappearance.
Grisell was charged with the same offences, excluding forced disappearance.
Gerardo and Francisco both appeared via video link from the maximum security 'El Hongo' prison, while Grisell and Jesús appeared in person in court on Thursday.
They have different attorneys, but two failed to appear in court, leading to the pre-trial hearing being rescheduled to later this month.
Gerardo's attorney requested to join all the charges together on the same indictment to streamline further court processes.
The outcome of the request will be determined at the pre-trial hearing on July 25.
This masthead understands there have been difficulties in determining and agreeing on the facts of the case, with the district attorney confident Jesús Gerardo would be able to be convicted on a number of offences including aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery when committed at night, robbery with violence, vehicle theft with violence and forced disappearance.
The other three may have their charges changed to exclude aggravated homicide. All four will remain in prison until the next hearing.
A Mexican not-for-profit aimed at combatting corruption said it was important to see justice was 'finally getting back on track' in a country where '99 per cent of murders never see light'.
Impunidad Cero said the case was moving 'surprisingly fast', likely due to pressure from both the international consulate and media.
It said nearly two thirds of Mexican people had lost trust in the local justice system, and 77 per cent of Mexicans believe crime is often only prioritised when it is subject to media or political pressure.
Human rights organisations have said previously many victims of crime in Mexico are predominantly Mexicans, with cartels avoiding targeting tourists due to the potential of attracting attention.
The fourth body in the well where the bodies of the men were found was believed to be that of a farmer who recently lost control of the ranch to the Sinaloa cartel.
Authorities have previously said the men's deaths were not connected to cartel violence, and were instead petty theft gone wrong.
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime researcher Cecilia Farfán-Méndez previously said cartels rarely targeted tourists, as it was more likely to draw attention from media.
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Jake and Callum Robinson: Mexican authorities say Perth brothers killed near beach known for drug-running
Loading Gerardo, also known as 'El Kekas', Angel Jesús and Ari Gisselle were all arrested soon after the alleged killings, while a fourth man – Irineo Francisco – was arrested some time later. Gerardo, Jesús and Francisco were charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery, grand theft auto and forced disappearance. Gisselle was charged with the same offences, excluding forced disappearance. Gerardo and Francisco both appeared via video link from the 'El Hongo' prison, while Gisselle and Jesús appeared in person in court on Thursday. Gisselle and Jesús were manacled together at the ankles. The ABC reported that court documents revealed Gerardo and Francisco's alleged links to the Sinaloa cartel were behind their transfer to a prison branded as being among the world's toughest. Jesus Gerardo, known as El Kekas. Credit: The men have different attorneys, but two failed to appear in court, leading to the rescheduling of the pre-trial hearing to later this month. Gerardo's attorney requested to join all the charges together on the same indictment to streamline further court processes. The outcome of the request will be determined at the pre-trial hearing on July 25. It is understood there have been difficulties in determining and agreeing on the facts of the case, and that Gisselle, Jesús and Francisco could have their charges changed to exclude aggravated homicide. All four will remain in prison until the next hearing. The Robinson family made no statement about the proceedings other than thanking followers on Instagram for their support. A Mexican not-for-profit aimed at combating corruption said it was important to see justice where '99 per cent of murders never see the light'. It said nearly two-thirds of Mexican people had lost trust in the local justice system, and 77 per cent of Mexicans believed crime was often only prioritised when it was subject to media or political pressure. Human rights organisations have said previously that many victims of crime in Mexico are predominantly Mexicans, with cartels avoiding targeting tourists due to the potential of attracting attention. A demonstrator's bodyboard reads in Spanish 'No more violence' during protests at the death of the Robinson brothers and their American friend in Ensenada, Mexico, last year. Credit: AP The fourth body in the well where the bodies of the men were found was believed to be that of a farmer who recently lost control of the ranch to the Sinaloa cartel. Authorities have previously said the men's deaths were not connected to cartel violence, and were instead petty theft gone wrong. The Tijuana Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, and Sinaloa Cartel are warring at present for control of the region. Start the day with a summary of the day's most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the sources of some information pertaining to the case.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Accused killers on trial for Australian brothers' deaths sent to ‘Mexico's toughest prison'
Two of the men accused of murdering Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad will remain in a notorious maximum-security prison in the Mexican desert while lawyers determine the facts of the case. Two court hearings into the men's deaths were held back-to-back in Ensenada, in Baja California, on Thursday afternoon (Friday morning AEST). The Robinson brothers, from Perth's northern suburbs, were killed while on a surf trip to the Baja California peninsula in April last year. The brothers were travelling with Rhoad, a San Diego local, and drove a Chevrolet Colorado pick-up to their Punta San Jose campsite on the region's coastline. Four people will be tried in connection with the men's alleged murders. Prosecutors believe the trio was targeted by criminals looking to steal their car's tyres, and were killed when they resisted. However, this masthead understands the surfing spot where the men had been camping, La Bocana, which is almost two hours from a main road and accessible only by four-wheel-drive, is a 'hot spot' for local drug labs and marijuana plantations. The beach is used to transport drugs and migrants across the ocean to the United States. It is also understood that one of the men accused of the murders, Jesús Gerardo, had a long background with law enforcement, including connections to organised crime and allegedly corrupt Mexican police officers.
7NEWS
12 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Jake and Callum Robinson: Court document reveals Mexican Sinaloa cartel linked to murder of Perth brothers
Two of the men accused of murdering Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson in Mexico have alleged links to one of Mexico's most feared cartels, court documents show. Jesús Gerardo and Irineo Francisco have been transferred to Mexico's maximum-security 'El Hongo' prison due to their alleged ties to the notoriously violent Sinaloa cartel, according to the ABC. Two other co-accused, Ángel Jesús and Ari Gisell, reportedly do not appear to have any links to the cartel. Mr Gerardo and Mr Francisco's alleged links to the cartel, which earlier this year was designated a terror group by the Trump administration, was revealed in court documents. All four accused faced court in Esenda, Mexico, overnight on Friday, Perth time, with the parents of the Robinson brothers dialling into the proceedings by video-link. The new cartel claims came to light after prosecutor Miguel Ángel Gaxiola Rodríguez said that despite the horrific killings occurring in an area notorious for cartel activity and violence, the most likely reason for the murders was tyre theft. The brothers had been camping in a remote part of northern Mexico with their American friend Carter Rhoad when they were each shot in the head in April last year. Their bodies were then callously dumped in a 15-metre-deep well in Baja California. A fourth, unrelated body was also found in the same location. All four defendants are charged with the aggravated homicide of the surfers from Perth and their American friend, Carter Rhoad. The ABC reported court documents showed Mr Gerardo and Mr Francisco were transferred from a local prison in the city of Ensenada in August, after the court found they 'require special security measures given that penitentiary authorities have identified them as members of criminal groups affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel'. The document also said one defendant 'claimed within the detention centre population that he can escape confinement at any time he chooses, in addition to participating in the use of prohibited substances on behalf of the gang known as 'Los Paisas'. Lawyers for the accused men appealed the transfer decision, but two courts upheld the decision saying they were satisfied the men had ties to criminal groups operating in service of the cartel. The court of appeals document said both men had 'high criminal capacity, high aggressiveness, emotional detachment, high egocentricity, and marked emotional instability'. Since their arrests, a court was told Gerardo — who was the first to be taken into custody — had allegedly confessed to his then-partner, showing her the allegedly stolen tyres and then allegedly telling her: 'I up three gringos'. The case will return to court on July 25.
