Three men found guilty of murdering two Australian surfer brothers and US friend

What the report says

Three men have been found guilty in Mexico of murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad, according to BBC World News. The case stems from a 2024 surfing trip in Baja California, where the three tourists were killed during what prosecutors and the court described as an apparent botched robbery involving their truck in a secluded beach area.

BBC reported that the bodies of the men were later discovered with gunshot wounds and dumped down a well. The verdict was delivered on Friday in the state of Baja California, after a month-long trial in Ensenada. The prosecution had sought lengthy prison terms for each defendant, while the families of the victims followed the proceedings closely.

The killings drew international attention, especially in Australia, because the coastal area is usually seen as a safer destination than other parts of Mexico. Jake and Callum Robinson’s parents attended court and gave emotional testimony, while Rhoad’s relatives joined remotely. Their deaths also prompted local surfers in Ensenada to hold a memorial paddle-out and renewed calls for better security in a region where tourism is a major part of the economy.

For context, the case has been discussed in Mexico alongside broader concerns about violent crime and the risks faced by travelers in some areas, although BBC’s report says authorities described the surfers as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.