Three men sentenced to 158 years each for killings of surfers in Mexico
publishers 29articles 33first reported 17 Oct, 02:52 UTCdeveloping since 17 Oct · 8 editions
A Mexican judge sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surfing trip in Baja California.
Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus were convicted of killing Jake Robinson, 30, Callum Robinson, 33, and Carter Rhoad, 30, as well as robbery and vehicle-theft offenses. Judge Raul Hernandez ruled that the defendants acted with premeditation.
The three victims were camping in a remote beachside area near Ensenada when they were attacked in late April 2024. Prosecutors said the assailants sought to steal tires and other parts from the group’s pickup truck. The surfers were shot, and their bodies were later found with gunshot wounds to the head in a cliff-top well. Investigators said the tents and truck were burned in an effort to destroy evidence.
The case prompted international condemnation, particularly in Australia. The Robinson brothers’ parents traveled from Australia for the month-long trial. “It’s hard for a parent to lose a son, and we lost two sons,” their father, Martin Robinson, said. Rhoad’s mother, Page, said after the verdict that there could never be justice for losing a child, but expressed relief that the men would not hurt anyone else.
A former girlfriend of Jesus Gerardo was separately sentenced to 20 years in prison in November after admitting involvement in the robbery.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 7 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 36 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 29
- Source articles
- 33
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 7
- This version written
- 36 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →