Murder accused grilled by witness about teen’s death

One of 12 men accused of murdering a teenager admitted his role in the killing during a phone call after a violent ambush in a park, a judge has heard.

Rami Joseph Eresto was part of a group of young people drinking and hanging out at a baseball pitch in a park in the northern Brisbane suburb of Zillmere at 5pm on September 13, 2020 when they were attacked by a number of armed men.

Girum Mekonnen, 19, died from a 25 centimetre-deep stab wound allegedly inflicted during the attack and 10 people were injured, including Eresto’s brother.

Eresto appeared as a witness on Thursday in the Brisbane Supreme Court for the judge-only trial of the 12 defendants, who have all pleaded not guilty to murder as well as assault and wounding offences.

He told Justice Lincoln Crowley he had up to four beers at the park before he heard a female friend yell out a warning.

“We saw people surrounding us on both sides … They were swinging their knives and machetes and bats and whatnot. They were gutless,” Eresto said.

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

Eresto said he recognised Kresto Wal Wal as he was not wearing a mask and he recognised the gap in his teeth.

“He was holding a baseball bat over shoulder, looking me dead in the eyes and smiling,” Eresto said.