Key facts
- Three men are on trial in Mexico for the homicides of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad.
- The victims were killed after being robbed while camping in a remote beachside area in Baja California.
- Their bodies were found hidden on a cliff.
- The girlfriend of one of the accused received a 20-year sentence for instigating the robbery.
- The parents of the Robinson brothers are attending the trial in Ensenada.
Three men have gone on trial in Mexico for the murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad. The trio were shot dead after being robbed while camping in a remote area of Baja California, a region known for its surfing spots and high crime rates.
Their bodies were discovered hidden on a cliff. The Robinson brothers' parents, Martin and Debra Robinson, have traveled to the port city of Ensenada to attend the trial, seeking answers about the deaths of their sons. "It’s about representing our sons, being here for them. I know they want us to be here," Martin Robinson told reporters.
Last year, the girlfriend of one of the accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to instigating the robbery. The crime drew significant outrage and sadness in both Australia and the United States. Callum Robinson was a professional lacrosse player in the US, while his brother Jake was pursuing a medical career. Rhoad was killed a few months before his planned wedding.
This incident is not the first time foreign tourists have been targeted in criminal attacks along Mexico’s Pacific coast. In 2015, two Australian surfers were murdered and their bodies burned in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.