Arrest warrant as judge considers verdicts for men accused of killing Girum Mekonnen at Zillmere

A dozen men accused of murdering a man in a park in Brisbane’s north more than four years ago will have to wait until next year to learn their fate after a 15-day judge-only trial.

Girum Mekonnen has been identified as the young man who lost his live in a gang fight at Zillmere on Sunday afternoon Picture Facebook

A dozen accused murderers won’t learn their fate until sometime next year, as their mammoth Supreme Court trial came to a close on Monday after three weeks.

In a somewhat uncommon occurrence, the presiding judge issued an arrest warrant for contempt of court for a witness - Mathew Brook - who was subpoenaed to testify during the trial, but failed to show.

A dozen defendants have been on trial for 15 days in a judge-only proceeding charged with one count of murder, nine counts of malicious acts with intent, as well as one count of assault occasioning bodily harm. Each defendant has pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges.

They are charged with the murder of Girum Mekonnen, 19, who was stabbed in O’Callaghan Park in Zillmere in Brisbane’s north around 5.30pm on September 13, 2020.

Kresto Wal Wal at court during the trial. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

In final closing arguments on Monday, barrister Scott Lynch, acting for defendant Kresto Wal Wal, described the case against his client as “a very primary example of the dangers of relying upon flawed identification evidence”.

“The specific identification evidence given by those in the complainants’ group is extraordinarily unreliable,” he told the court.

Mr Lynch highlighted the evidence of witness and alleged victim Ronal Eresto.

“His identification was six weeks after the incident, after speaking with others about who was involved,” he argued.

“He accepted he had been told by [witness and fellow complainant] Zaki [Adwanga] who was there, he has seen someone he knows as ‘Gucci’ with a knife while other witnesses say the person they knew as ‘Gucci’ was armed with a baseball bat, at the committal he spoke about ‘Gucci’ having a [face] covering over his mouth but at trial he said he could see his mouth.”

Mr Lynch said the evidence had not proven that Kresto Wal Wal was part of any plan, did not know specifically what it entailed, and therefore should be acquitted.

Defence barrister Jeffrey Hunter, representing Gabreal Wal Wal, said there was no evidence of his client making any direct threats regarding the earlier assault on his brother John Wal, which the Crown alleges was the motive for the Zillmere park attack — revenge.

Mr Hunter also highlighted that his client’s mobile phone location data did not show him being in the specific area of the park where the attack occurred.

“We don’t know who he was with, he wasn’t present when the weapons were loaded [into the cars], we don’t have him engaging in any violence at the scene but rather the opposite, and in circumstances where he wasn’t masked,” the court heard.

Rami Joseph Eresto gave evidence during the trial. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“Ultimately the case against him is really limited to motive and presence without him actually doing anything other than allowing several people to get to safety.”

Defence barrister David Funch, acting for Santo Wal, said his client used his Triton ute to travel to and from the park with others, but he did not go into the park.

“He walked to the bus stop several hundred metres from the park with the group, before withdrawing. He then picked up members of the group after the incident,” Mr Funch said.

Santo is another brother of earlier assault victim John Wal.

“What cannot be proved is that he had any interest in any form of retribution for John,” Mr Funch argued.

“It cannot be proved that anyone travelling in his car was armed, or if they were that he had knowledge of that, it cannot be proved what he had been told if anything about the reason why he was giving his younger brother and friends a lift to the park.”

Witness Rami Eresto testified during the trial that he spoke to Santo Wal in the days after the attack and accused Santo Wal and his brothers of being responsible.

“Well that’s what happens when you hurt someone’s family. ‘Junior’ is angry,” Santo Wal allegedly replied. It is alleged ‘Junior’ is a name used by Gabreal Wal Wal.

Justice Lincoln Crowley said he was unlikely to deliver verdicts before the end of the year. File picture: Richard Walker

In his closing address, Mr Funch argued that this testimony only went as far as showing that

“Santo approved of what occurred after the fact” and did not prove his involvement.

Justice Lincoln Crowley told all parties involved that he couldn’t say how long it would take for him to reach verdicts and produce a written judgment.

“There are a lot of detailed arguments that have been put forth, which will require me to revisit all of the evidence and go through it in fine detail. I don’t expect I will be in a position to give verdicts in the matter and a written judgment before the end of the year,” he said.

The 12 accused men are Alex Edward Deng, 22, Ben Abio, 23, Majok Riel Majok, 23, Yohana Wal Wal, 23, Malat Akoi Makuach, 25, Juma Makuol Deng Makuol, 27, Chan Kuchmol Kon, 28, Joseph Lokolong, 28, Kresto Wal Wal, 28, Abraham Ajang Yaak, 30, Gabreal Wal Wal, 31, and Santo Wal, 36.

A thirteenth person charged in relation to the Zillmere park incident has been granted a separate trial, due to happen sometime next year.

Originally published as Arrest warrant as judge considers verdicts for men accused of killing Girum Mekonnen at Zillmere