ENSENADA, Mexico (AP) — The trial of three men accused of killing two Australian brothers and their American friend during a surfing trip to Mexico in 2024 entered its final stage Thursday, in a case that raised concerns about the safety of tourists visiting the country.
Prosecutors in the Mexican state of Baja California and defense attorneys delivered closing arguments Thursday after a month of hearings. A judge is scheduled to announce a verdict Friday on the charges of murder and aggravated robbery.
Martin and Debra Robinson, the parents of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, attended Thursday’s hearing. The brothers were killed along with their American friend, Jack Carter Rhoad.
Debra Robinson called for “exemplary punishment” for those responsible, telling the court that “our children were taken from us and our lives changed forever.”
She recalled that the victims had pleaded for mercy. “How can someone so kind die at the hands of such ruthless people?” she asked.
Natalie Rob, the wife of the American victim, addressed the court by video call, saying that living without her husband was “the greatest pain of my life.” She said she hoped the defendants would repent and accept God’s love.
The three men traveled to Baja California in April 2024 to surf near Punta San José, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the coastal city of Ensenada. They were reported missing shortly after arriving, and their bodies were found May 3 in a well near the area.
The Robinsons traveled from Australia to attend the trial, which began Sept. 7.
“I know they would want us to be here; they would do the same for us,” Martin Robinson said at the start of the proceedings.
Four people were arrested in connection with the killings, including Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” who prosecutors allege carried out the murders.
García’s former partner, Ary Gisell Silva Raya, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last November after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery and violent vehicle theft. Authorities said they found one of the victims’ phones in her possession.
García and two other defendants, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús, chose to stand trial.
During testimony last month, Silva Raya told the court that García had confessed to approaching the surfers’ tent with a 9 mm handgun. She said the men threw their belongings at him in an attempt to fend off the attack and that one pleaded for his life.
Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez said García allegedly tried to steal tires and other parts from the surfers’ pickup truck. Prosecutors believe he shot the men when they resisted and later concealed their bodies in a well.
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Debra and Martin Robinson, the parents of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, arrive to court for the trial of the men accused of murdering them, in Ensenada, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Castaneda)
CHICAGO (AP) — José Ramírez homered and drove in three runs, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night to send their AL Division Series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Patrick Bailey also went deep and Game 2 starter Gavin Williams came out of the bullpen to get the last three outs as the Guardians won for the second consecutive day after beginning their postseason with two straight losses at home. Jo Adell hit a two-run single to cap a six-run sixth inning for the AL Central champions.
“This team has answered all year,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We talk about it — we punch back.”
Cleveland is looking to become the first major league team to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series since the 2017 New York Yankees accomplished the feat against, well, Cleveland. Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have gone on to win 83 of 93 times.
Game 5 is back in Cleveland on Saturday night, and the winner will open the American League Championship Series at Tampa Bay next Monday.
“As we’ve battled back and forth with these guys, obviously fitting that it’s going to come down to this,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Chicago's bullpen — one of its biggest strengths in a surprising season — is suddenly looking very tired. Grant Taylor was hit hard after pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings over the first two games of the series, allowing four runs and four hits without retiring any of the six batters he faced during Cleveland's rally in the sixth.
Miguel Vargas homered late for the White Sox, who flopped in their second straight bid to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs. Sam Antonacci drove in two runs.
All-Star closer Cade Smith worked a scoreless eighth for the Guardians but then gave up Vargas' first postseason homer and a walk to start the ninth. He was replaced by Williams, who was making his first career relief appearance and could still start Game 5 as well.
The right-hander needed 18 pitches to get three outs after throwing 98 pitches on Monday. He was the seventh Guardians reliever as the teams combined to use 15 pitchers in a game that took 3 hours, 39 minutes.
Williams went 14-8 this season and led the AL with 248 strikeouts.
Cleveland trailed 2-0 before rallying in the fifth. Bailey led off with a pinch-hit homer, and Steven Kwan chased Erick Fedde with a one-out single.
Jordan Hicks came in and Ramírez drove a 99.9 mph fastball deep to right-center for just his second homer since Sept. 1, a span of 26 games. The seven-time All-Star had surgery after he broke a bone in his left hand on a swing June 13.
“It was José Ramírez being José Ramírez in the playoffs,” Vogt said. “Bring in a fastball, Hicks with a great fastball, and Josy got to it. To step up, say there he goes again.”
It was Ramírez's first postseason homer since 2024 and No. 5 overall. He also starred in Game 3, finishing with two hits and two RBIs in Cleveland's 9-3 victory.
“It was really special,” Ramírez said through a translator. “It was great energy out there, and very special to share this with the guys.”
Chicago responded with two runs in the bottom half, sending a charge through the crowd of 39,920. Antonacci was hit by a pitch from Tim Herrin with the bases loaded, and Brenton Doyle made it 4-3 with a sacrifice fly. The White Sox had the bases loaded with two down, but rookie Braden Montgomery struck out swinging against winning pitcher Erik Sabrowski.
Antonacci has been plunked 33 times this year, including a franchise-record 29 in the regular season. The rookie became the first player in postseason history to be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded multiple times in a career, after he was also plunked in the same situation in Game 3.
Losing pitcher Anthony Kay started the sixth for Chicago, but the left-hander was replaced by Taylor after Travis Bazzana's RBI double tied it at 4. Bailey greeted Taylor with a run-scoring single, and Cleveland started to pull away.
Walks by Brayan Rocchio and Kwan loaded the bases for Ramírez, who made it 6-4 with an infield single. Chase DeLauter added another run-scoring single before Adell capped the outburst with a liner to right that drove in Kwan and Ramírez.
“I feel like we’ve been impacting the baseball a lot better the last two games,” Bailey said. “Obviously, the more you see a certain guy, kind of not necessarily more comfortable, but you get to see that kind of shapes more and more. Definitely helps.”
Adell hit a three-run triple during Cleveland's Game 3 victory. He has four hits, three walks and six RBIs in the series.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Chicago White Sox players watch from the dugout during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas watches his solo home run during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Gavin Williams delivers during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Huh)
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez celebrates after hitting a 2-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez hits a 2-run home run during the fifth inning in Game 4 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)
