Mexico: Court finds three men guilty of murder of Australian, US surfers

A Mexican court on Friday convicted three men in the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend, who were killed during a botched robbery which sparked international outrage.

Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, and their friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip to Mexico when they were shot dead in Baja California state.

They were camping in a remote beachside area near the city of Ensenada when they were attacked during a suspected robbery. Their bodies were found days later, in a well, with gunshot wounds to their heads.

What was said in court?

The judge on Friday ruled that the three Mexican defendants had acted with premeditation. They are yet to be sentenced for the murders.

The prosecution has asked for an "exemplary sentence" of 210 years for each of the three convicted, even though the maximum sentence in Baja California is 60 years.

Debra Robinson, mother to the Australian brothers, burst into tears when the court passed the guilty verdict.

"While no verdict can ever bring back our boys or ease the heartbreak of losing them," the convictions marked "an important step towards justice and accountability," their father Martin Robinson said in a statement on behalf of the family. 

Victim begged for mercy

Case prosecutors described the killings of the three surfers during the closing arguments on Thursday, by recalling the testimony of the girlfriend of one of the main suspects.

She had said that Rhoad had begged for his life while her boyfriend had bragged about "how beautifully" his victims cried before he robbed them.

The triple homicide shocked Mexico and drew international attention when it came to light.

Baja California is one of Mexico's most violent states, riddled with organized crime and drug trafficking, although cartel activity doesn't usually affect tourists.

Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google by clicking here and hitting the "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.