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

Os irmãos australianos Jake e Callum Robinson, de 30 e 33 anos, e seu amigo Carter Rhoad, de 30 anos, estavam em uma viagem de surfe quando foram mortos por tiros.

Ver imagem em tela cheia México: Homens acusados de atirar e matar irmãos surfistas australianos e amigo dos EUA no México, aguardam destino enquanto julgamento conclui Os pais dos irmãos, Martin e Debra Robinson, irão se dirigir ao tribunal antes que um juiz mexicano dê o veredicto.

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleA Mexican judge is expected to hand down his verdict 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 defence were expected to present their closing arguments from 1pm Thursday (6am AEDT on Friday), after which the judge was expected to announce his verdict.

Se condenados, os três serão sentenciados na sexta-feira.

Martin e Debra Robinson, os pais dos irmãos, irão se dirigir ao tribunal. Ambos viajaram da Austrália para a cidade portuária de Ensenada para o julgamento, que começou em 8 de setembro.

View image in fullscreenAddressing the court at the start of the trial, Martin Robinson, pictured with his wife Debra, described his sons’ alleged murders as ‘hell’.

Photograph: Guillermo Arias/AFP/Getty ImagesRhoad’s mother, Page, and his widow, Natalie Weirtz, will also participate in the hearing in a video call from the United States.

Os surfistas estavam acampando em uma área remota à beira da praia quando foram supostamente atacados em abril de 2024. Seus corpos foram encontrados em um poço na falésia, com ferimentos por bala na cabeça.

Authorities allege the men were killed during an attempt to steal their pickup truck, which was later found burned near their bodies.

Jesus Gerardo é acusado de liderar o suposto ataque. Seu sobrenome não foi divulgado por motivos legais. A namorada dele foi condenada em julgamento separado em novembro a duas décadas de prisão após admitir que instigou o assalto.

Baja California is one of Mexico’s most violent states, plagued by organised crime and drug trafficking, although cartel activity does not usually affect tourists.

Other foreign visitors have, however, been targeted in criminal attacks on Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, were killed in 2015 while traveling through the north-western state of Sinaloa. Their bodies were later burned.