In short
- Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were shot dead in Baja California in April 2024.
- Prosecutors are seeking 150 years in prison for each of the three accused men.
- The trial began on 8 September in the port city of Ensenada, with closing arguments scheduled from 1pm Thursday local time.
- Jesus Gerardo is accused of leading the attack; his girlfriend was sentenced to 20 years in prison at a separate trial in November after admitting she instigated the robbery.
- The victims’ bodies were found in a clifftop shaft with gunshot wounds to their heads.
A Mexican judge is expected to deliver a verdict in the trial of three men accused of killing Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, Callum Robinson, 33, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, during a 2024 surfing trip in Baja California. Prosecutors are seeking 150 years in prison for each defendant, and closing arguments were set for Thursday.
Who were the three men killed in Baja California?
Jake Robinson, 30, Callum Robinson, 33, and Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip along Mexico’s Pacific coast when they were shot dead in Baja California state in April 2024. The three were camping in a remote beachside area when they were allegedly attacked. Their bodies were found in a clifftop shaft, with gunshot wounds to their heads.
What is happening in the Ensenada court?
Closing arguments were scheduled from 1pm Thursday local time, 6am Friday Australian eastern daylight time, after which the judge was expected to announce his verdict. If convicted, the three accused will be sentenced on Friday. The trial opened on 8 September in the port city of Ensenada, with the brothers’ parents travelling from Australia to attend.
Who is accused of the killings?
Jesus Gerardo is accused of leading the alleged attack. His surname has not been disclosed for legal reasons. His girlfriend was sentenced at a separate trial in November to 20 years in prison after admitting that she instigated the robbery. Authorities allege the three men were killed during an attempt to steal their pickup truck, which was later found burned near their bodies.
What have the victims’ families said?
Martin and Debra Robinson, the parents of Jake and Callum Robinson, will address the court in Ensenada. Rhoad’s mother, Page, and his widow, Natalie Weirtz, will also take part in the hearing by video call from the United States. At the start of the trial, Martin Robinson described his sons’ alleged murders as “hell” and said: “It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons.”
Do tourists face violence on Mexico’s Pacific coast?
Baja California is one of Mexico’s most violent states, affected by organised crime and drug trafficking, although cartel activity does not usually affect tourists. Other foreign visitors have been targeted in criminal attacks on Mexico’s Pacific coast: two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, were killed in 2015 while travelling through the north-western state of Sinaloa, and their bodies were later burned.
Frequently asked questions
What verdict is expected in the Baja California surfers murder trial?
A judge in Ensenada is expected to announce his verdict after closing arguments on Thursday. If the three accused are convicted, they will be sentenced on Friday.
Who were the three victims?
Jake Robinson, 30, Callum Robinson, 33, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were shot dead in Baja California in April 2024 while on a surfing trip. Their bodies were found in a clifftop shaft.
What sentence is the prosecution seeking?
Prosecutors are seeking 150 years in prison for each of the three accused men.
Where and when is the trial taking place?
The trial is being held in Ensenada, a port city in the Mexican state of Baja California, and began on 8 September.
With reporting from The Guardian.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
