A Mexican judge has convicted three men in the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad, a case that drew international attention.
The Robinson brothers, aged 30 and 33, and their friend Rhoad, 30, were shot dead while on a surfing trip along Mexico's Pacific coast in Baja California, in what authorities described as a robbery. Their deaths triggered an outpouring of grief and anger in Australia and the United States.
Jesus Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas", was accused of leading the attack. His surname was not released for legal reasons. Along with two other defendants, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, Gerardo was convicted on Friday local time.
Martin and Debra Robinson, the brothers' parents, traveled from Australia to the port city of Ensenada to attend the trial, which began on September 7. Debra Robinson, who testified on the final day of the proceedings, said: "They have taken our sons from us forever. What hurts us most is that in their final hours, they were treated so cruelly."
Addressing the court as the trial opened, Martin Robinson described the killing of his sons as "hell". He said: "It is hard for a father to lose one child, and we lost two."
Rhoad's mother, Page, and his fiancee, Natalie Weirtz, also took part in the hearing by video call from the United States. Weirtz said: "The defendants are guilty and must be punished so that no other family has to endure the same pain. Since Carter died, I have felt lost and isolated."
The surfers were camping in a remote beach area when they were attacked in April 2024. Their bodies were found in a deep pit beneath a cliff, with gunshot wounds to the head.
Baja California is one of Mexico's most violent states, long plagued by organized crime and drug trafficking, although cartel activity rarely affects tourists. Foreign visitors have nonetheless been targeted in criminal attacks along Mexico's Pacific coast.
In 2015, two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, were murdered while traveling through the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Their bodies were later burned.
More details to follow…
