Three Men Get 158 Years In Prison For Killing Australian, US Surfers In Mexico

A Mexican court has sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad during a surfing trip in Baja California in April 2024. The sentencing on Friday, October 16, followed their conviction a week earlier for homicide, aggravated robbery and vehicle theft with violence.

Judge Raul Hernandez ruled that the three defendants, Jesus Gerardo Garcia, known as “El Kekas”, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesus, had acted with premeditation. The case attracted international attention and raised concerns about the safety of foreign tourists visiting Mexico, particularly its popular coastal destinations.

The three victims were travelling through Baja California, a region known for its beaches and surfing spots, when they decided to camp near Punta San Jose, around 80 kilometres from Ensenada, on April 27, 2024. They were attacked during the night after their arrival.

According to prosecutors, the attackers intended to steal the tyres from the surfers’ pickup truck. When the victims resisted, the assailants opened fire, killing all three men. Their bodies were subsequently dumped in a well more than 15 metres deep. The remains were discovered on May 3, after several days of searching, with the victims having sustained gunshot wounds to the head.

Garcia was identified as the suspected gunman following his arrest in May 2024. His former partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, was also arrested after being found with a cellphone belonging to one of the victims. She later pleaded guilty and received a 20-year prison sentence in November for aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence.

The prosecution had sought longer sentences of up to 210 years for each of the three men. The judge also ordered the defendants to compensate the victims’ families, with further details on compensation to be pursued through the appropriate legal process.

The Robinson brothers’ parents followed the case through the lengthy trial and welcomed the guilty verdict as an important step towards justice, although they acknowledged that no court ruling could undo their loss.

The killings have also affected tourism in the region. Antonio Otañez, president of the Baja California surfers’ association, said the verdict meant “justice has been served”, while acknowledging a significant decline in visits, particularly among surfers.

The case has renewed scrutiny of tourist safety in Mexico, where beach destinations remain important to the country’s tourism-dependent economy.