A judge in the Mexican state of Baja California convicted three men on Friday of the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend while they were on a surfing trip.

Judge Raúl Hernández in Ensenada ruled that Jesús Gerardo García, known by the alias “El Kekas,” along with Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús, were guilty of aggravated homicide, armed robbery, and armed carjacking in the deaths of Callum Robinson, Jake Robinson, and Carter Redd Rhoad. The three victims, all in their early 30s, had traveled to the area in April 2024 and were reported missing shortly after arriving near Punta San José.

Their bodies were discovered in early May 2024 in a well, each with gunshot wounds to the head. Prosecutors described the killings as the result of a botched robbery targeting the group's truck in a remote beach area. The defendants had been in custody for more than two years prior to the verdict.

The month-long trial drew international attention, with the victims' parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, attending proceedings and providing emotional testimony. Martin Robinson described the guilty verdict as a significant moment in the family's pursuit of justice. The prosecution had sought lengthy prison terms, with some reports indicating requests for up to 210 years per defendant.

Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, with the judge expected to announce it around October 16. The case highlighted concerns over crime affecting tourists in parts of Mexico, though the coastal region near Ensenada is typically considered safer than other areas of the country.

One defendant’s former partner had previously been sentenced to 20 years in a related proceeding. The convictions mark the conclusion of a high-profile trial that began after the victims crossed into Mexico from the United States.