In brief
In Ensenada, Mexico, a judge‑only trial has begun against three men accused of murdering Callum and Jake Robinson—two Australian surfing brothers—and their friend Carter Rhoad in 2024. The victims’ bodies were discovered at the bottom of a well, all showing gunshot wounds to their heads. Prosecutors seek more than 200 years in prison for each defendant, citing a bungled robbery and car‑jacking motive. Parents of the brothers testified in a tense courtroom, demanding justice for their sons. The case highlights a rare spike in violent crime against tourists in Baja California’s surf towns.
In Ensenada, a judge‑only trial has begun against three men accused of murdering Callum and Jake Robinson—two Australian surf‑tourists—and their friend Carter Rhoad in 2024. The citizens of these victims were found at the bottom of a well, all with gunshot wounds to their heads, after a suspected car‑jacking gone wrong.
The defendants—Jesús "El Kekas" Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús—face charges that could see them serve a combined sentence of over 200 years. Prosecutors argue that the killings were part of a failed robbery, while the defence contends there is insufficient evidence to link the crime to the alleged robbery.
Parents of the brothers, Martin and Debra Robinson, testified on Tuesday. "Callum and Jake were not simply victims in a case file – they were our sons, deeply loved by family and friends, with lives, dreams and futures that were brutally taken away," Martin told reporters.
The trial, scheduled for four weeks, will hear testimony from dozens of witnesses. The small courtroom observed heightened security after allegations that some witnesses were intimidated by individuals linked to the alleged suspects. Earlier last year, the ex‑girlfriend of one of the accused was convicted for her role in the murders and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The case marks a rare spike in violent crime against tourists in Baja California’s surf towns—a region usually considered safe and popular among international travelers. As the proceedings unfold, the international community watches closely, hoping that justice for the surf‑trip victims is served and that the integrity of Ensenada’s tourist industry remains intact.
