A Mexican courtroom has heard chilling witness details in the trial of the three men accused of killing Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson in April 2024.
On day one of the trial in Ensenado, which parents Martin and Debra Robinson have flown from Perth to watch unfold in person, three witnesses appeared before the court.
Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas”, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús are facing charges of aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto in connection to the brothers’ and their American friend Carter Rhoad’s death.
One witness, who according to reports appeared from a separate room with his face and identity concealed, told the court he was with Gerardo at the crime scene, where the two other accused men were present.
He waited nearby then fled when the situation escalated, he told the court, the SMH reports.
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“I heard a commotion, got out of the pickup truck and took off running to my uncle’s house, where I hid in the bathroom,” he said.
Later, he saw the men again, when they threatened to kill him and make him disappear if he told anyone what he saw.
“You’re going to end up like the gringos,” he recalled being told.
Mrs Robinson, who was slated to take the stand on day one, reportedly waited all day to speak but was ultimately told her testimony was not relevant at the time and to sit back down.
Mr Robinson was registered to address the court on day two, however its unclear at this stage if that will go ahead.
Day two, according to Nine, was delayed while waiting for the judge to arrive. He appeared remotely for day one after being assigned to the trial in a last-minute change because the original judge was injured.
Family of late Mr Rhoad have reportedly been watching the trial via video call from their home in the US.
The trial got off to a rocky start when prosecutors told the court that two witnesses had been intimidated in the lead-up to proceedings by people connected to the accused, ABC News reported.
The first two witnesses allegedly received death threats and are now in witness protection.
An investigation from the State Attorney General’s Office found the two Perth men and their American friend were camping in a rural area of Ensenada when the local men, allegedly led by Gerardo, attacked them while trying to steal their ute.
When they tried to defend themselves, the accused shot them and threw their bodies down a well.
Gerardo’s girlfriend, Ary Gisell Silva, admitted to instigating the robbery to take the car’s tyres and was last year sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The trial is expected to hear from more than 30 witnesses across an estimated six weeks.
None of the men have entered pleas after reportedly turning down a deal that would have seen them jailed for between 47 and 52 years.
Prosecutors are seeking sentences of more than 200 years for each of the alleged killers.
Outside court, Mrs Robinson told media that she and her husband felt it was important to be at the trial in person.
“We’re doing this because we believe Callum and Jake would want us to be here,” she said.
“We want to find out what happened. We want to find out why,” Mr Robinson said.
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