By Carrington Clarke and Aline Corpus, in Ensenada for ABC
Photo: Instagram/Supplied
A Mexican court has heard chilling details of the events which prosecutors allege followed the deaths of Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, as a man faces charges relating to their disappearance.
The trio were surfing and camping in a remote part of northern Mexico when they were shot dead.
Their bodies were later found in a 15-metre well a short distance from their campsite.
Jesús Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas", appeared before a court in the Mexican city of Ensenada on Thursday, where his last name had been suppressed according to local laws.
He wore an orange jumpsuit and white sneakers with his hands and feet handcuffed and chained to the floor.
He stands charged with being responsible for the disappearance of the three men, but is yet to enter a plea.
Charges against Gerardo have not yet been upgraded to murder, but that is expected to happen in coming days.
The judge read out the state's case, in which Gerardo's then-girlfriend, 23-year-old Ari Gisell has turned prosecution witness.
The prosecution alleged Ari, whose last name had also been suppressed, told authorities her then-partner had admitted to killing the three men.
The court heard she told investigators her former romantic partner had arrived at her house on Sunday and told her "I f****ed up three gringos".
The court heard she said, "what do you mean?" to which he replied, "I killed them".
Prosecutors alleged he then gave her a mobile phone and said "look what I got you", before taking her outside to show her the new tyres on her car that had been allegedly stolen from the trio's vehicle.
There is a possibility that when Ari turned on the stolen mobile phone, she attracted the attention of Mexican authorities.
Upon her arrest, the court heard she told investigators she wanted to assist the investigation because she had a four-year-old daughter who she needed to care for.
She alleges Gerardo has a history of domestic violence and had been physically and mentally abusing her.
Ari was arrested in relation the trio's disappearance, along with Gerardo's brother, Cristian Alejandro. She has been charged with drug possession after being found with methamphetamine.
Surfing trio was vulnerable, judge says
Prosecutors alleged Gerardo robbed the men of the tyres on their car, along with cash and electronic valuables.
They told a court room packed with local and foreign journalists that they believed other people were involved in the case.
Questions remain about how one man of slight build could have moved the bodies of three large men about 6km away from the crime scene to a well where their bodies were later discovered.
It is these circumstances, along with the way the men were killed, that has led some to question whether Mexican cartels or organised crime were involved.
The judge presiding over the case told the court the three victims were vulnerable.
He said the Australian and American men were in a remote part of a foreign country where they did not speak the language and did not have phone reception or social support.
The court heard tooth fragments and a bullet casing were all found at the crime scene where the trio had been camping.
Their campsite was later discovered burnt to the ground, alongside their 4WD.
Gerardo sat impassively in the tiny court room.
Before him sat two public defenders and an unarmed police officer.
At the end of court proceedings, the man leaned forward to speak with his legal team.
Gerardo is yet to enter a plea and has been remanded in custody until his next court hearing, which is scheduled to take place in 8 November.
- ABC