The Mexican trial that began in Ensenada puts the accused on track for decades behind bars, with prosecutors seeking sentences of more than 200 years for each defendant and an extra 168-year term for the alleged ringleader.
The case concerns Callum Robinson, his younger brother Jake, both Australians in their early 30s, and their US friend Carter Rhoad, all found dead at the bottom of a well with gunshot wounds to their heads days after they disappeared during a 2024 surf trip in Baja California.
The three men on trial face charges including murder, violent robbery and auto theft. Prosecutors say the killings resulted from a bungled robbery, while defence lawyers argue the evidence does not prove that theory.
On the opening day the accused, named as Jesús "El Kekas" Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús, were moved to a smaller courtroom after claims that some witnesses had been intimidated by people linked to the defendants. Dozens of witnesses are expected to give testimony during the four-week, judge-only proceedings.
One person already convicted in connection with the case is the ex-girlfriend of an accused man, Ari Gisell, who was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison for her role in the deaths.
The Robinsons' parents attended the hearing and issued a statement about the personal toll of the killings, saying they wanted those accused to face the human consequences of what happened. The family has described the moment as incredibly important and overwhelmingly difficult.
The killings reverberated in Australia and unsettled residents of Ensenada, a coastal town that is not accustomed to tourists being targeted with such extreme violence. Mexican prosecutors say the defendants should receive severe penalties if convicted, while the defence maintains the case against them is not proven.
The trial will continue over the coming weeks, with the court hearing witness accounts and weighing the competing narratives about what happened on the Robinsons' trip.
