Australian brothers’ accused kidnapper confessed to killing them, girlfriend says
By Alex Crowe
The girlfriend of a man charged with kidnapping two Australian brothers in Mexico has told a court her boyfriend confessed to killing three foreigners after returning home from their campsite.
Jesus Gerardo, also known as “El Kekas”, faced kidnapping charges on Wednesday over the disappearance of Callum Robinson, 33, his brother Jake, 30 and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30.
Police arrested Gerardo’s girlfriend, Ari Gisel, and found her in possession of amphetamines and a mobile phone believed to belong to one of the brothers. She has been charged with drug possession.
Gisel told the court she had told police her boyfriend confessed he had “f----d up three gringos” – using a Spanish term meaning person who is not Latin American – and taken the tyres from their ute.
She said Gerardo fitted her car with the stolen tyres on April 28, the morning after the alleged killings. The accused man’s girlfriend told the court she then fled the home and went to her mother’s house.
Gisel said she was the victim of domestic violence and was worried about the safety of her four-year-old son, Nine News reported.
Gerardo has been charged with forced disappearance, a charge equivalent to kidnapping, and has been held in custody awaiting trial in November. It is expected the charges against him could be upgraded to murder.
Gerardo’s brother Christian Alejandro Garcia has also been charged with kidnapping.
After the hearing, the Mexican state of Baja California’s Attorney-General Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez released a statement which said the three men had been assaulted by Gerardo during the afternoon of April 27 and the morning of April 28.
“While the foreigners were camping, they were surprised by Jesus and other people, with the intention of stealing their vehicle and in response to the victims’ reaction, they deprived them of their lives,” Elena said.
Jesus Gerardo, known as El Kekas, faced kidnapping charges on Wednesday.
“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.”
Australian Federal Police officers are working with Mexican counterparts to bring justice for the Robinson brothers and Rhoad, who were travelling in Baja California when they failed to check into their accommodation.
A few days after they disappeared, police arrived at their last known whereabouts and found a campsite covered in blood.
The bodies of the Robinson brothers and Rhoad were discovered in a well with bullet wounds to the head.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Australian embassy in Mexico would continue to work with federal police and local authorities.
“I am heartbroken for Jake and Callum’s parents and am thinking of them at this incredibly difficult time,” she told AAP.
Parents of the slain Australians, Debra and Martin Robinson, said the world had become a darker place since their sons were killed and that they were preparing to bring their bodies home.
Gerardo has a criminal record of drug dealing, vehicle theft and domestic violence. It is believed he did not act alone.
Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena has offered condolences to the men’s parents and her office said it “expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims in the face of this tragic event and deeply regrets the outcome of the events”.
With AAP
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