Australian brothers killed near Mexican beach known as drug-running ‘hot spot’

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A Mexican court has heard the man accused of killing Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad had known links to organised crime, and the trio had been camping near a beach known for its role in the movement of drugs over the US border.

Two court hearings into the men’s deaths were held back to back in Ensenada in Baja California on Thursday afternoon local time (Friday morning Australian time).

The photos of Callum and Jake Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad are placed on the beach in Ensenada, Mexico.

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 in April last year.

Prosecutors believe the trio was targeted by criminals looking to steal their car’s tyres, and were killed when they resisted.

However, the Ensenada court heard the men had been camping at a surfing spot called La Bocana, almost two hours from a main road and only accessible by four-wheel-drive.

It is a “hot spot” for local drug labs and marijuana plantations, and the beach used to transport drugs and migrants across the ocean to the US.

The court heard the man believed to be responsible for the men’s murders – Jesús Gerardo – has a long background with law enforcement, including connections to organised crime and allegedly corrupt Mexican police officers.

Jesús Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas”, Angel Jesús and Ari Gisselle 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.

Gisselle was charged with the same offences, excluding forced disappearance.

Gerardo and Francisco both appeared via video link from the maximum security “El Hongo” prison, a facility in the Mexican desert, while Gisselle and Jesús appeared in person in court on Thursday.

Gisselle and Jesús were manacled together at the ankles.

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.

The Robinson family made no statement about the proceedings but posted on Instagram:

A Mexican not-for-profit aimed at combatting corruption said it was important to see justice where “99 per cent of murders never see light”.

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.