Mexico sentences killers of US, Australian surfers to 158 years each in prison

A court in Mexico sentenced three men to more than 158 years each in prison on Friday for murdering two Australian surfers and their American friend in 2024.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families, an official said.

The three defendants, Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, were convicted a week ago of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence.

What was the case about?

In 2024, the three victims were on a surfing trip to Mexico's Pacific coast.

Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, respectively, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, 30, were shot dead in Baja California state during an attempted robbery.

The three were camping in a remote beachside area near the city of Ensenada when they were attacked on April 27, 2024.

Days later, their search, assisted by the FBI, led to their bodies dumped in a cliff-top well, with gunshot wounds to their heads.

Their killings sent shockwaves through Ensenada, the hotspot for surfing that attracts people from around the world.

While Mexico has long struggled with widespread insecurity, the area where the murders were committed was considered safe for tourists.

What did the families of the victims say?

"There will never be justice for the loss of a child, but these men will never hurt anyone else again,” said Page Rhoad, mother of the slain American, via Zoom after the sentencing.

The Robinsons' parents traveled to Mexico from Australia for the month-long trial and left after the initial guilty verdict.

"It's hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons," Martin Robinson said.

Debra Robinson said what hurt the most was that her sons "were treated with such cruelty" in their final hours.