Verdict date set as mother of Australian brothers killed in Mexico makes emotional plea
Ensenada, Mexico: The grief-stricken parents of Jake and Callum Robinson made an emotional plea to the court as the trial of three Mexican men accused of murdering the two Australians neared its conclusion on Wednesday.
The judge set a date for closing arguments next Thursday (Mexico time), and a verdict the following day, which is just hours before Debra and Martin Robinson are due to fly back to Perth after spending the past four weeks in Ensenada for the trial.
Debra Robinson stood up in court on Wednesday to thank the judge and ask for a verdict to be delivered before she and her husband are due to head home. She told the court they had flights booked for next Friday night.
“If there is any possibility of the verdict being delivered before then – even if the sentencing occurs at a later date, we would be extraordinarily grateful,” she said as her voice quivered.
“It would mean so much for us, as parents of Jake and Callum, to be here for the verdict. We have travelled such a long way to seek justice for our sons and Carter.”
The Robinson brothers’ American friend, Carter Rhoad, was also killed in April 2024 in what the prosecution alleged was a robbery gone wrong in a remote beachside area of Baja California.
The judge partly acceded to the Robinsons’ request by scheduling the verdict at 10am on Friday (Mexico time) when the court would not ordinarily sit.
Following the hearing, Debra Robinson said it had been “an incredibly difficult and emotional few weeks”.
“We are deeply grateful for all the support and kindness we have received since we have been here,” she told reporters outside court.
“To everybody back home in Australia and around the world, we feel your love and your arms around us. It is giving us strength during some difficult days.
“As you know, we don’t want to comment on the proceedings while the trial is ongoing out of respect for the court and its process. We will wait for the verdict before we speak any further.
“Right now, our focus is on Callum, Jake and Carter – on honouring them, their memory and seeing the process through.”
Debra and Martin Robinson have attended each day of the four-week trial, sitting within a few metres of the three men accused of murdering their sons, inside a small, beige courtroom under fluorescent lights.
On Wednesday, the accused sat in bright orange prison jumpsuits with their ankles cuffed to each other, as two police officers stood behind them.
It was initially believed a verdict could be delivered as soon as this week. In Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted less than an hour, the defence opted not to cross-examine two key witnesses; a former girlfriend of alleged ringleader Jesus Gerardo, who is also known as El Kekas, and her son.
Both are in witness protection and cannot be identified. No further witnesses are due to appear in court.
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Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.