Mexico trial opens over killings of three surfers
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Three men went on trial in Mexico on Monday over the killings of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad during a surf trip in Baja California in April 2024. Prosecutors allege the three victims were murdered in a robbery linked to their truck, and the defendants also face charges including violent robbery and auto theft. The bodies were found days after the men disappeared, dumped in a clifftop shaft or well with gunshot wounds to the head. The opening of the case in Ensenada brought the Robinsons’ parents to court as they said they wanted answers and wanted the accused to confront the human cost of the killings.
Key Points
- Jake Robinson, 30, Callum Robinson, 33, and 30-year-old American Jack Carter Rhoad were camping in a remote beachside area when they were attacked in April 2024
- Their bodies were found several days after they went missing, at the bottom of a well or clifftop shaft, with gunshot wounds to their heads.
- Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of more than 200 years for the three defendants, who also face violent robbery and auto theft charges
- Authorities say the killings happened during an attempt to steal the surfers’ truck, which was later found burned near their bodies
- The girlfriend of one accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting she had urged the robbery to steal the truck’s tyres
Why It Matters
The case has drawn attention well beyond Mexico because the victims were foreign travellers whose disappearance triggered public appeals in Australia and the United States. For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that high-profile tourist areas can still carry serious risks from violent crime even when visitors are not the intended targets of organised criminal activity