A Mexican court has delivered a guilty verdict against three men involved in the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend, Carter Rhoad. The victims, aged 30, 33, and 30 respectively, were on a surfing trip along Mexico's Pacific coast when they were fatally shot in Baja California state. The judge presiding over the trial determined that the defendants acted with premeditation during what authorities identified as a suspected robbery.
The three convicted men include Jesus Gerardo, known as “El Kekas,” who was accused of leading the attack, along with co-defendants Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus. The trial, which commenced on September 7, saw the victims' parents travel from Australia to the port city of Ensenada to witness the proceedings. Debra Robinson, the mother of the brothers, provided testimony during the final day of the trial, expressing deep anguish over the cruelty the men faced in their final hours.
Following the verdict, Martin Robinson, the father of the brothers, thanked the court staff, the judge, the Australian federal police, and the Australian embassy in Mexico for their assistance. He remarked that while no legal outcome could undo the tragedy, the verdict represented a significant step toward justice. Debra Robinson noted that the conviction did not alleviate her grief, emphasizing that she preferred not to focus on the perpetrators, whom she does not wish to grant any notoriety. The family intends to continue their sons' legacy through the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation, which seeks to encourage others to live and love in their honor.
The hearing also included participation from Carter Rhoad’s mother, Page, and his fiancée, Natalie Weirtz, who joined via video call from the United States. Weirtz stated that the conviction was necessary to prevent other families from enduring similar pain, noting that she has felt isolated and paranoid since the incident. The surfers' bodies were discovered in a clifftop shaft in May 2024, bearing gunshot wounds to the head. In a related proceeding in November 2025, Ary Gisell Silva, who was the girlfriend of the primary defendant, received a 20-year prison sentence after admitting to instigating the robbery.
Sentencing for the three convicted men is scheduled for October 16. While the prosecution has requested 210 years of imprisonment for each defendant, the maximum sentence permitted under the laws of Baja California is 60 years. This case follows previous instances of violence against foreign visitors on Mexico's Pacific coast, including the 2015 deaths of Australian surfers Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman in the state of Sinaloa.
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The surfers were camping in a remote beachside area when they were attacked in April 2024. Their bodies were found in a clifftop shaft, with gunshot wounds to their heads.
