Three men jailed 158 years each for killing Australian, US surfers in Mexico

A Mexican court sentenced three men to more than 158 years in prison each for the 2024 murders of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surfing trip in Baja California, Mexico, DW English reported.

The men, Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco, and Angel Jesus, were convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence, and vehicle theft with violence, according to DW English and Al Jazeera English.

The victims, brothers Jake and Callum Robinson from Australia and their American friend Carter Rhoad, were shot dead during an attempted robbery while camping on a remote beach near Ensenada, Mexico, as reported by BBC World and The Guardian.

Their bodies were found dumped in a cliff-top well with gunshot wounds to the head after a search involving the FBI, Al Jazeera English noted.

The case drew international attention, particularly in Australia, and impacted tourism in the region, with local surf association leaders welcoming the sentencing as justice served, Al Jazeera English reported.

The court also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families, according to DW English.

The sentencing followed a guilty verdict handed down a week earlier, as reported by BBC World and The Guardian.