Bombshell in brothers’ Mexico murders
The alleged ringleader accused of murdering two Aussie brothers and their American friend confessed to his girlfriend that he killed the trio, a court has heard, as it is revealed she has become a key witness for the prosecution.
The bombshell twist can be revealed as Jesus Gerardo, one of three Mexican nationals charged over the events following the disappearance of Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, fronted an Ensenada court.
Both of the Robinson brothers and Mr Rhoad were killed during what prosecutors alleged was a botched carjacking while they were on a surfing trip in Baja California last month.
Jesus’ girlfriend Ari Gisel and Jesus’ brother, Cristian Alejandro, were arrested following the trio’s deaths. They had their last names suppressed.
Ari Gisel was charged with drug possession in relation to the case at hand.
Details of the case were revealed on Ben Fordham’s 2GB radio slot on Thursday morning - including how Ari Gisel told the court Jesus had confessed to shooting all three men.
Nine News correspondent Alison Piotrowski, who was in the courtroom, told the program on Thursday Ari Gisel had become a key witness in the prosecution case.
She said Jesus also known as El Kekas - a slang term for quesadilla - was alleged to have confessed he “f***ed up three gringos” at the time of the homicide, the court heard.
“She has flipped on the ringleader and the evidence she’s provided to the prosecution will lead this case going forward,” Ms Piotrowski told 2GB on Thursday.
Ari Gisel allegedly asked what he meant and said Jesus then told her: “I killed them.”
The exchange is alleged to have taken place on April 27, the weekend when Jake, Callum and Mr Rhoad intended to split their time between camping and surfing around Baja California.
Ms Piotrowski told 2GB that Ms Gisel detailed to the court in her testimony how Jesus took her outside to see his car, which now sported the tyres stolen from the ute of the three vacationers.
The court heard the 23-year-old fled the house soon after, staying with her mother where she was arrested in possession of the victims’ phones and an unspecified quantity of illegal drugs.
Jesus was charged with forced kidnapping and was refused bail, he did not enter a plea and will return to court on November 10. It is expected that his charges will be upgraded to murder as the investigation progresses.
“In relation to the homicide the prosecutor’s office will also file the corresponding criminal charges,” Baja California’s attorney general María Elena Andrade Ramírez said in a statement after the trial:
“While the foreigners were camping, they were surprised by Jesús, and other people, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and in response to the victims’ reaction, they deprived them of their lives,” the statement read.
“Through the investigations carried out ... the white Chevrolet Colorado vehicle in which the victims were travelling was found burned.
“Other evidence was also collected, such as rods from tents, firearm shells, plastic gallon bottles, blood stains and traces of dragging, in the place where it is presumed that they were camping.”
The Ensenada judge suggested to prosecutors that the crime could not have been committed by Jesus alone, given he would have to move the bodies of three men on his own.
“The judge did say that he can’t understand how one sole person could have done this, essentially kidnap and kill three men and take their tyres, it seems like too much,” Ms Piotrowski said.
“He suggested that the prosecution needed to look into more suspects, that they needed to broaden their investigation because it couldn’t have been done by one man alone.”
Following her arrest, Ms Gisel said she would aid in the investigation in order to support her four-year-old-daughter, the court heard. Jesus is alleged to have physically and mentally abused Ms Gisel.
The bodies of Callum, Jake and Mr Rhoad were reportedly hidden in a well 10m deep covered with boards near their campsite.
Parents Martin and Debra Robinson have formally identified the bodies of their sons.