A man accused of fatally shooting two Australian brothers and their American friend allegedly confessed that the victims cried and begged for their lives before he killed them, a court in Mexico has heard. The alleged murders occurred in April 2024 as the tourists, Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, were on a surfing trip along Mexico's Pacific coast.
Their bodies were discovered days later at the bottom of a well, each with gunshot wounds to the head. The group's pick-up truck was found abandoned and burnt out nearby. Three men—Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Ángel Jesús—have been charged with aggravated homicide. Prosecutors allege the motive was to steal the tourists' phones and car tires.
During the trial, Jesús Gerardo's former girlfriend, Ari Gisell, 23, provided testimony detailing the alleged events. Gisell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to inciting the robbery that led to the killings. She told the court that she first met the Robinson brothers at Punta San José, a coastal camping spot, after her then-boyfriend, Jesús Gerardo, instructed her to ask them for fuel.
She described the tourists as "kind" and "friendly," and they agreed to share their fuel. Gisell testified that she later told Jesús Gerardo, also known as "El Kekas," that the tourists "had good tyres, and good phones," though she insisted she was not encouraging a robbery.
Gisell stated that she and Jesús Gerardo later went to his mother's house, after which he and his stepson returned to the beach. According to her testimony, the stepson wore clothing to disguise his identity, as it was reportedly his "first job."
Gisell recounted hearing that the victims threw their keys and wallets from their tent while "begging not to be killed." She testified that Jesús Gerardo told her he shot one of the men when they opened the tent door. She added that Jesús Gerardo and his stepson later arrived at his mother's house in the tourists' vehicle, which had blood inside.
When Jesús Gerardo returned, he had three phones and two chain necklaces in his pocket, Gisell told the court. She did not question him further due to his reputation as a hit man and his violent tendencies. Gisell later learned of the other accused men's alleged involvement when Jesús Gerardo reportedly boasted about killing the trio. He also allegedly mocked his stepson for being too frightened to participate, while joking that "without [his stepson's] help, they wouldn't have been able to do anything."
Gisell testified that Jesús Gerardo joked about the victims crying when they realized they were in danger, recalling one man pleading, "please don't kill me because I have a wife."
The court also heard Gisell describe Jesús Gerardo as a hit man who was always armed and kept a list of intended targets. She described the Robinson brothers and Mr. Carter Rhoad as good people who deserved justice.
Jake and Callum Robinson's parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, were present in court to hear the testimony. "It's about representing our sons, being here for them. I know they want us to be here," Mr. Robinson told reporters prior to the trial. "We want to find out what happened. We want to find out why."
Callum Robinson had played professional lacrosse in the U.S., while Jake was pursuing a career in medicine. Mr. Rhoad was killed just months before his scheduled wedding.
The trial, which began in the port city of Ensenada, is expected to last longer than four weeks due to scheduling issues and a change in judges. Baja California is known for its high levels of organized crime and drug trafficking.