On Thursday, a Mexican judge is scheduled to deliver his judgment in the widely followed murder trial of three men accused of murdering two surfers from Australia and their American companion during a 2024 surfing excursion in Baja California state. Australian siblings Callum and Jake Robinson—who were 33 and 30 years old respectively—alongside their 30-year-old friend Carter Rhoad, were shot and killed during a suspected robbery in a secluded coastal area before their bodies were discovered inside a shaft on a cliffside.
Closing Arguments and Verdict Timeline in Ensenada
The prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments starting from 6am AEDT, after which the judge is scheduled to announce his verdict. If convicted, the three defendants will face sentencing on Friday. Mexican prosecutors are seeking jail sentences of 150 years for each of the accused, while prosecutors also pursued potential prison terms exceeding 200 years across various charges including violent robbery and auto theft.
The trial itself commenced on September 8 in the coastal port city of Ensenada. During the proceedings, the three defendants were moved to a smaller courtroom following concerns regarding witness intimidation by individuals associated with the accused, according to coverage. Dozens of witnesses provided evidence throughout the four-week, judge-only trial.
Human Toll and Family Testimonies
Martin and Debra Robinson, the parents of Jake and Callum, traveled from Australia to attend the courtroom proceedings in Ensenada. Addressing the court at the start of the trial, Martin Robinson described his sons’ alleged murders as hell
and noted, It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons.
In a statement cited by the article, the parents emphasized the personal weight of the hearings: We want the men accused of murdering our sons to see, in person, the human consequences of what happened. Callum and Jake were not simply victims in a case file – they were our sons, deeply loved by their family and friends, with lives, dreams and futures that were brutally taken away.
Rhoad’s mother, Page, and his widow, Natalie Weirtz, participated in the hearing via a video call from the United States.
Surfing Trip Cut Short and Prior Convictions
The three victims were camping in April 2024 when they were attacked during what prosecutors describe as a bungled robbery and carjacking. Callum Robinson was a professional lacrosse player based in San Diego and a member of Australia’s national lacrosse team. His younger brother Jake had traveled from Australia for the trip and was scheduled to begin work as a doctor upon his return, while Rhoad was killed months before his wedding.
While northern Mexican border states experience significant cartel-related violence, tourists are rarely targeted in such fatal attacks within Baja California surf towns, generating widespread grief and condemnation across Australia and the United States. An ex-girlfriend of one of the accused, Ari Gisell, was previously convicted in connection with the killings and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
