Men accused of shooting Australian surfer brothers and US friend dead in Mexico to learn fate as trial concludes

A Mexican judge is expected to hand down his verdict Thursday in the high-profile murder trial of three men accused of killing two Australian surfers and their American friend in 2024.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33 respectively, and their friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip to Mexico’s Pacific coast when they were shot dead in Baja California state in an alleged robbery.

The deaths of the trio sparked an outpouring of grief and condemnation in Australia and the United States. The prosecution is seeking 150 years in prison for each of the accused.

The prosecution and defense were expected to present their closing arguments from 6am AEDT, after which the judge is expected to announce his verdict.

If convicted, the three will be sentenced on Friday.

Martin and Debra Robinson, the brothers’ parents, will address the court. Both traveled from Australia to the port city of Ensenada for the trial, which began on 8 September.

Rhoad’s mother, Page, and his widow, Natalie Weirtz, will also participate in the hearing in a video call from the United States.

The surfers were camping in a remote beachside area when they were allegedly attacked in April 2024. Their bodies were found in a clifftop shaft, with gunshot wounds to their heads.

Addressing the court at the start of the trial, Martin Robinson described his sons’ alleged murders as “hell.”

“It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons,” he said.