Witnesses in the trial of three men accused of murdering two Australian brothers and their American friend in Mexico have been placed in a witness protection program following alleged threats, a court has heard.
Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, aged 30 and 33, and their 30-year-old American friend Jack Carter Rhoad were killed in April 2024 while on a surfing trip in Baja California state. Their bodies, bearing gunshot wounds, were discovered days after they went missing in a clifftop shaft.
During the first day of court proceedings in Ensenada, the judge ordered the three defendants removed from the courtroom. This decision followed prosecutors' claims that two witnesses had been intimidated by individuals connected to the accused. A woman who previously dated one of the accused, Jesús Gerardo, known as 'El Kekas,' and her son have reportedly been placed in witness protection, with their identities undisclosed.
The son testified that he was invited by El Kekas to a beach on April 27, the day the killings are believed to have occurred. Upon arrival, he stated they saw two foreigners, referred to as 'gringos,' along with a pick-up truck, surfboards, and a tent. He recounted that El Kekas and a woman approached them. The witness claimed the 'gringos' asked for help finding petrol for a fire. The witness and El Kekas then took two women home before returning to the beach with a second pick-up truck.
Under limited visibility in the dark, the witness stated he saw the other two accused, Ángel Jesús and Irineo Francisco, at the scene around 11 p.m. He reported hearing a gunshot and "yelling and fighting" before fleeing to his uncle's home. Later, he alleged El Kekas warned him not to speak about the evening's events.
The mother of the witness also testified, becoming emotional as she recounted warning her son not to associate with her then-partner. She stated she was staying with her sister on the day of the events and learned of what happened from her son the following day.
Authorities believe the Robinsons and Rhoad were killed during an attempted robbery of their pick-up truck, which was found burned near their bodies. The prosecution presented the case as a robbery gone wrong, though the defense argued insufficient evidence for this claim. Earlier, the girlfriend of one of the accused was sentenced to 20 years for admitting she instigated the robbery, reportedly to steal the vehicle's tires.
The crime prompted widespread grief and outrage in Australia and the United States, leading to a significant social media campaign by friends and relatives to find the missing trio.
Martin and Debra Robinson, parents of the slain brothers, attended the trial. "It's about representing our sons, being here for them. I know they want us to be here," Martin Robinson told reporters. "We want to find out what happened. We want to find out why."
Callum Robinson was a professional lacrosse player in the U.S., while Jake Robinson was pursuing a medical career. Jack Carter Rhoad was reportedly killed months before his scheduled wedding.
Baja California is known for its high levels of organized crime and drug trafficking, though tourist-targeted cartel activity is less common. However, other foreign visitors have been victims of criminal attacks along Mexico's Pacific coast, including the 2015 murders of two Australian surfers, Dean Lucas and Adam Coleman, whose bodies were found burned in the state of Sinaloa.