3 men sentenced to more than 158 years each for killing Australian, U.S. surfers in Mexico - BERITAJA
ByFabiola Sánchez and Francisco Javier Cruz
ENSENADA, Mexico — A judge has sentenced 3 Mexican men to much than 158 years successful situation each for the 2024 murders of 2 Australian brothers and their American friend, a lawsuit that tarnished Mexico’s image by exposing the risks foreigners look erstwhile visiting the tourism-dependent country.
The sentencing connected Friday, which came a week aft the men were recovered guilty, marked the extremity of a lengthy ineligible process complete the killings of Australians Callum and Jake Robinson, and American Carter Redd Rhoad. Their bodies were recovered successful May 2024, and astatine slightest 4 group were arrested for their alleged engagement successful the crime.
A judge successful Ensenada, successful Baja California state, ruled that Jesús Gerardo García, known arsenic “el Kekas,” Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N” would each service 158 years and 9 months successful situation for murder, robbery pinch unit and conveyance theft pinch violence.
Antonio Otañez, president of the Baja California surfers’ association, welcomed the outcome, saying, “justice has been served.” But he acknowledged that the killings had caused a “major drop” successful tourer visits, peculiarly by surfers, to the region known for its beautiful beaches.
Here is simply a look astatine the cardinal facts and events successful the case:
The Robinson brothers and Rhoad decided to recreation to Mexico successful precocious April 2024 to prosecute 1 of their passions, surfing, astatine a formation successful Punta San José, about 50 miles from Ensenada.
Unaware of the risks they faced, the 3 friends decided to campy connected the formation connected the nighttime of April 27, 2024.
Their attackers confronted them there, changeable them dormant successful the early greeting hours and past dumped their bodies into a good much than 50 feet deep. The bodies were recovered connected May 3 aft respective days of searching.
The Baja California prosecutor’s agency announced connected May 5, 2024, that it had arrested García, identifying him arsenic the suspected gunman successful the killings of the 3 foreigners.
State authorities said García had a criminal history successful Ensenada involving alleged supplier dealing, unlawful introduction into a home, home unit and conveyance theft.
García’s erstwhile partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, and 2 of his alleged accomplices, Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N,” were besides arrested successful the case.
Silva Raya, whom authorities recovered successful possession of a cellphone belonging to 1 of the victims, agreed to an abbreviated proceedings and successful November was sentenced to 20 years successful situation for aggravated robbery pinch unit and conveyance theft pinch violence.
State charismatic María Elena Andrade alleged that the attackers wanted to bargain the tires from the foreigners’ pickup motortruck and that the victims resisted.
“The attackers propulsion retired a weapon they were carrying and termination the personification who initially resisted the robbery, past move connected the different two,” she added.
Sánchez and Cruz constitute for the Associated Press. Sánchez reported from Mexico City .
