Three men in Mexico have been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend at a well-known surfing destination.
Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, were travelling along Mexico’s Pacific coast with their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, when all three were shot dead in Baja California.
The men had been camping in a remote area beside the beach when they were attacked in April 2024.
Their bodies were discovered several days after they disappeared, dumped in a shaft near a cliff and bearing gunshot wounds to the head. Their vehicle was later found burned out near Santo Tomás.
Jesus ‘El Kekas’ Gerardo, described in court as the alleged ringleader, was convicted last week alongside Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus.
Seven days after the guilty verdicts, a Mexican court sentenced each man to 158 years and nine months in prison.
According to ABC News, the defence team has indicated that it intends to appeal the sentences.
Jake and Callum’s parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, sat holding hands as the verdicts were delivered on October 9.
Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, (pictured) were travelling along Mexico’s Pacific coast with their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, when all three were shot dead in Baja California
Jesus ‘El Kekas’ Gerardo, described in court as the alleged ringleader, was convicted last week alongside co-defendants Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus
The three men were each sentenced to 158 years and nine months in prison, while the defence has indicated that it intends to appeal. Pictured is one of the defendants, Angel Jesus
In a victim impact statement delivered on October 8, Ms Robinson urged the court to impose the maximum available prison sentences.
“No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters,” she told the court.
The couple had attended every day of the trial and sat only metres from the three defendants during six hours of closing arguments before the convictions were announced.
When the verdict was read, Ms Robinson broke down in tears and embraced an Australian consular representative.
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Prosecutors told the court that the three tourists were killed during a robbery that spiralled out of control. The defence, however, argued that there was not enough evidence to establish their guilt.
The judge ultimately found that several witnesses had given credible and consistent accounts.
One of those witnesses was Ari Gisell, the former girlfriend of Jesús Gerardo, who had previously been jailed for her part in instigating the robbery that led to the killings.
She told the court that Gerardo had described how the victims pleaded for their lives before they were killed, and later mocked the men for crying.
In a victim impact statement on October 8, Debra Robinson, the mother of Jake and Callum, urged the court to impose the maximum prison sentences
Police alleged the trio’s vehicle (pictured) was later found burnt-out in the Santo Tomás area
Debra and Martin Robinson (pictured with their sons) had attended every day of the trial and sat through six hours of closing arguments before the conviction
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.
Mr Rhoad worked at a technology services company and was set to get married in August 2024.
Three wooden statues were installed overlooking the North Baja coast to commemorate the Perth brothers and their American friend.
The Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation said in 2025 that the ‘unveiling ceremony brought together surfers, representatives from the Australian embassy and the Baja California governor’s office’.
‘After a few words were shared, the community honoured the boys with a traditional paddle out,’ the statement said.
Although Baja California is a hotspot for cartel activity, authorities say the killings were not tied to organised crime.
More to come.
