Three men in Mexico have been sentenced to life in prison after they were found guilty of murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend at a popular surf spot.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip to Mexico’s Pacific coast when they were shot dead in Baja California state.
They had been camping in a remote beachside area when they were attacked in April 2024.
Their bodies were found dumped in a clifftop shaft several days after they went missing, with gunshot wounds to their heads.
Last week, Jesus ‘El Kekas’ Gerardo, identified in court as the ringleader, along with co-defendants Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, were found guilty of the killings.
Seven days later, they were each sentenced in a Mexican court to 158 years and nine months in prison.
The defence team has suggested their intention to appeal the sentence, according to ABC News.
Jake and Callum’s parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, sat hand in hand as the guilty verdicts were announced on October 9.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, (pictured) and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip to Mexico’s Pacific coast when they were shot dead in Baja California state
Jesus ‘El Kekas’ Gerardo, identified in court as the ringleader, found guilty of the killings alongside co-defendants Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus last week
The three men were each sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison. Pictured is Angel Jesus
During a victim impact statement on October 8, Ms Robinson had asked the court to hand down maximum prison sentences.
‘No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters,’ she said.
The couple had attended every day of the trial and sat through six hours of closing arguments before the conviction, just metres from the three defendants.
Ms Robinson cried and embraced an Australian consular representative when the verdict was handed down.
Prosecutors argued during the court proceedings that the three tourists were killed during a robbery that went wrong, while the defence claimed there was insufficient evidence to prove the case.
However, the judge ruled that several witnesses had provided credible and consistent testimony.
Among them was Ari Gisell, the former girlfriend of Jesús Gerardo, who was previously jailed for her role in instigating the robbery that led to the killings.
She told the court Gerardo had recounted how the victims pleaded for their lives before being murdered, and later joked about the men crying.
Jake Robinson, 30, was a doctor who was due to take up a position at a hospital in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, after returning to Australia.
His older brother Callum, 33, was a professional lacrosse player based in San Diego, in the US.
More to come.
