Martin and Debra Robinson travelled from Perth to Ensenada, on Mexico's Pacific coast, for the trial of Jesús Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas", Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús. The three men, clad in bright orange prison jumpsuits, sat metres away from the Robinsons in the small courtroom. Debra Robinson is expected to address the court on Monday, with Martin Robinson to follow on Tuesday.
In a last-minute development, a new judge was appointed to oversee the four-week trial after the previous judge was unable to preside due to an "accident" over the weekend. The new judge appeared remotely because there was not enough time to travel to Ensenada.
The three defendants are charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto. The prosecution is seeking sentences of more than 200 years.
Jake, 31, a doctor, and Callum, 32, who had been living in the US for 12 years, travelled to Mexico with their friend Carter Rhoad, 33, to go camping and surfing. They were reported missing in April 2024. Search teams later discovered their bodies several days later. Investigators said all three were executed with a gunshot to the head before their bodies were dumped in a well, where the body of a local farmer was also found. The brothers' burnt-out car was found on a ranch with its tyres missing, and their campsite was also burnt out.
Three witnesses are expected to give evidence on the first day, with dozens more to be called over the course of the trial.