Mexican judge sentences three men for murders of Australian, US surfers

What the report says

A Mexican judge in Baja California has found three men guilty in the killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend, ending a monthlong trial over a case that drew wide attention in Mexico and abroad. Al Jazeera reported that Judge Raul Hernandez in Ensenada ruled against Jesus Gerardo Garcia, also known as “El Kekas,” along with Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, over the April 2024 deaths of Callum and Jake Robinson and Carter Redd Rhoad.

The three victims had travelled to the coastal area near Ensenada to surf and camp, but disappeared shortly after arriving in Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometres away. Their bodies were later found in a well with gunshot wounds. The defendants, who had been held for more than two years, were also convicted of armed robbery and armed carjacking. The judge is due to announce the sentence on October 16.

The case exposed disturbing details during trial, according to the report, including testimony from a woman who said Garcia described the attack and thefts. She had earlier pleaded guilty in a separate expedited proceeding and received a 20-year sentence for aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. Prosecutors have sought 210-year prison terms for each of the three convicted men.

The Robinson family said the verdict was an important step toward justice, though it could not undo their loss. The case also highlights the risks of violent crime in parts of Baja California, even as the article notes that tourists are not usually targeted by cartel activity.