A judge in Mexico has sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surfing trip in 2024 in the state of Baja California. The defendants were found guilty of murder, robbery, armed robbery, and theft of a vehicle with violence a week before the sentencing.

The victims were Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, along with their American friend, Carter Rhoad. The three men were fatally shot in what was described as a robbery while travelling through Mexico. They had been camping in a remote coastal area near the town of Ensenada when they were attacked on 27 April 2024. Their bodies were found days later in a well on a cliff, with gunshot wounds to the head.

Jesus Gerardo, known by the nickname 'El Kekas', was accused of leading the attack, but his surname was not released for legal reasons. The other two defendants, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, were also found guilty and sentenced. The full names of the convicted murderers could not be published due to legal constraints, and they were identified only as Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Angel Jesus.

The families of the victims watched the sentencing hearing via video link. Prosecutors had sought compensation of more than $100,000, but the judge rejected this, stating that any compensation must be sought in a civil case. The brothers' parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, had travelled from Australia to Ensenada for the trial, which began on 7 September.

They established a foundation in the name of their sons to continue their legacy. The Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation aims 'to help people live bigger, shine brighter, and love harder'. Callum, the elder of the two brothers, had moved to the US as a professional lacrosse player and was remembered for his kind nature and passion for the environment, participating in beach clean-ups. Jake, a doctor, was set to take up a position at a hospital in Geelong following his return to Australia. He was remembered for his academic success, passion for sport, particularly cricket and surfing, and his compassion.

Baja California is one of Mexico's most violent states, burdened by organised crime and drug trafficking, although the activities of cartels do not typically affect tourists. Foreign visitors have also been the target of criminal attacks on Mexico's Pacific coast. Two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, were killed in 2015 while travelling through the north-western state of Sinaloa, their bodies later burned.

In November last year, the girlfriend of the alleged leader, Jesus 'El Kekas' Gerardo, was sentenced in a separate trial to 20 years in prison. She had pleaded guilty to participating in the robbery. The court heard that the victims' bodies were found thrown into a well with gunshot wounds to the head. At the time, the murders shocked locals and tourists in the coastal town of Ensenada, who were disturbed by the apparent ease and senselessness of the killings. Ensenada has a reputation as a welcoming place for surfers, but the horrific murders revealed how common such extreme violence is in Mexico. The only explanation authorities could offer was that the surfers, all in their early 30s, were killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their deaths occurred just 36 hours after they had crossed into Mexico from the US. Their bodies, however, were not found for a further week, by which time families were able to identify them. Local surfers have called for greater security for residents and tourists, citing other recent incidents of violence in the state. Tourism is a key part of the regional economy in Baja California.