Mexican Trial Hears Details of Recovery of Australian Brothers' Bodies

The Mexican trial of the alleged murderers of two Australian brothers and their American friend has heard from officers involved in the search for the victims.

Jake and Callum Robinson, from Perth, and Carter Rhoad went missing in April 2024 while on a surfing trip in Baja California, Mexico. A court in Ensenada has heard from authorities involved in finding the men, including homicide detectives and forensics officers.

The chief of the state missing persons unit told the court investigators acquired their first clue on May 1, 2024, about four days after the men went missing.

"We located a house in front of the ocean, like a ranch, apparently abandoned. Approximately 100 to 120 metres from the house, there was a well that caught my attention," the officer told the court.

"Upon approaching, we detected foul odours."

The officer said the case was referred to the homicide unit when burned human remains were found inside the well.

Three Mexican men — Jesús Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas", Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús — are charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated burglary, violent robbery and grand theft auto.

A forensics specialist who testified told the court they located blood-stained clothes in the abandoned home near the well.

"Among the items found at the crime scene were a pair of brown boots and a sweater, a .45-calibre bullet, blood smears and a tooth," the forensics specialist said.

"The forensics specialist said all items were severely burned."

The defence lawyers questioned whether items such as the bullet were "old" and pointed out discrepancies in timelines recorded by authorities.

The trial was expected to last about a month, but a last-minute judge replacement has potentially thrown that timeline into disarray. It will continue next week.

Once the trial is finished, the judge will have 24 hours to make a judgement, and another week to hand down his verdict.