ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-10-09 · by Kamin Gock and Elissa Fitzgerald
Debra Robinson, mother of two Australian surfers killed in Mexico along with their American friend, has called for the maximum prison sentence for the three accused men charged with aggravated homicide and robbery. Jake Robinson (31), Callum Robinson (32), and Jack Carter Rhoad were shot dead during a surfing trip in April 2024. The court is set to deliver its verdict tomorrow after hearing closing arguments on Thursday. During the trial, Robinson emotionally pleaded for justice, emphasizing the importance of accountability and protection for other families from similar tragedies.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
Debra Robinson has asked for the maximum sentence to be given to three men accused of killing her sons and their American friend in Mexico.
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sentence → ask → Mexico
Jake and Callum Robinson and Jack Carter Rhoad were shot dead during a surfing and camping trip.
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Robinson → shoot → trip
A verdict in the case will be delivered tomorrow.
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verdict → deliver → case
The mother of two Australian surfers who were shot dead in Mexico has called for their accused killers to receive maximum prison sentences, as the court prepares to deliver its verdict.
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court → shoot → verdict
West Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, as well as their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, were shot dead after being robbed while on a surfing trip in Mexico in April 2024.
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brothers → shoot → April
Their bodies were found at the bottom of a well along Mexico's Pacific coast after they were reported missing.
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they → find → coast
Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús are charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto.
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Gerardo → charge → homicide
Closing arguments in the trial were heard in an Ensenada courthouse on Thursday, local time.
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arguments → close → Thursday
The defence cast doubt on the credibility of the investigation into the trio's deaths, as well as the testimony prosecutors relied on.
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prosecutors → cast → deaths
The families of the victims then addressed the court ahead of a verdict due to be delivered on Friday.
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families → address → Friday
"Callum and Jake were our only children," said Debra Robinson, who has attended most of the trial with her husband, Martin.
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who → say → husband
"Their loss has taken not only the sons we loved, but also the future we had imagined with them."
Ms Robinson cried as she read her statement and requested the judge hand down "a maximum sentence of imprisonment on those responsible".
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judge → take → those
"No sentence can bring Callum and Jake back; nothing can undo what has happened, but accountability matters," she said, adding that the protection of other families should also be considered.
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protection → bring → families
"We never want another family to experience the devastation and suffering that has been inflicted on ours."
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that → want → ours
Jake, a 31-year-old doctor from Perth, had travelled to California to meet up with Callum, 32, who had been living in the US for 12 years after moving over to play lacrosse.
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who → travel → lacrosse
They then travelled south with Mr Rhoad to Mexico to go camping and surfing.
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They → travel → camping
"We struggle to understand how three young men who showed kindness and trust, even in their final hours, could have been treated with such cruelty," Ms Robinson said.
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Robinson → struggle → cruelty
"We understand that they gave up their keys and wallets, then begged for their lives and asked not to be killed.
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they → understand → lives
"To know that their pleas were ignored is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives."
Ms Robinson previously asked for a timely verdict, as she and her husband are due to leave Mexico on October 9.
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she → know → October
looked uncomfortable in their seats as they listened to Ms Robinson's statement via a translator.
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they → look → translator
Mr Rhoad's fiancée, Natalie Weirtz, spoke on behalf of his family.
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fiancée → speak → family
She described Mr Rhoad as an "incredible person" who dedicated his time to helping youths.
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who → describe → youths
He had previously volunteered on humanitarian trips to South Africa, Guatemala and Mexico.
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He → volunteer → Africa
"I believe the accused are guilty and justice should be served in the highest degree," she said.
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she → believe → degree
All three defendants previously rejected plea deals that would have seen them serve jail terms between 47 and 52 years.
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them → reject → terms
Ari Gisell, the ex-girlfriend of Mr Gerardo, was sentenced to 20 years behind bars in November for her role in the robbery.
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Gisell → sentence → robbery
She was also fined 54,285 Mexican pesos ($4,323).
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She → fin → pesos
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