Callum and Jake Robinson: Perth dad delivers sad testimony in Mexico trial for men accused of killing sons

The father of the Perth brothers murdered while on a Mexican surf trip in 2024 has delivered a heart-wrenching hour-long testimony on the second day of the trial of three men accused of killing his sons.

Martin and Debra Robinson flew from Perth to be in the small Ensenada courtroom for the trial of Jesus Gerardo, also known as El Kekas, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus, who face charges of aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto.

Mrs Robinson was initially due to take the stand on day one, but after waiting all day was ultimately told her testimony was not relevant at that stage and returned to her seat.

She sat quietly crying as her husband spoke on day two, detailing the “hell” that has unfolded since 2024 when they learned their sons, Jake and Callum Robinson, and their American friend Carter Rhoad had been killed.

“It’s hell. It’s hard enough for a parent to lose one child but we lost two sons in horrific circumstances, and it’s left a huge hole in our lives,” Mr Robinson shared.

He recalled receiving a call from a US number on May 1 which he initially assumed was Callum calling on his birthday.

Instead, it was a friend calling to tell the parents their sons were missing.

Mr Robinson said he and his wife flew to the US two days later and, after arriving in Tijuana, were asked to identify their sons’ bodies.

Despite the gruelling and traumatising ordeal, the grieving father made an astonishing admission.

“We don’t hold any animosity towards the people who did this,” he told the court.

“But what we can’t understand is how they could deprive the world of these two beautiful men.”

“We miss them every day and our lives are never going to be the same again.”

At the end of his emotional testimony, he and Mrs Robinson embraced.

Mr Rhoad’s mother - giving evidence virtually - testified the trio had been shot three times.

“Each of the boys was shot behind the head,” she told the court.

I’m not an expert but to me it looked like an execution.”

A colleague of Callum, who played lacrosse professionally, also addressed the court and detailed the reaction of a small group of friends when they could no longer contact the men.

He contacted the accommodation where the trio were meant to be staying and was told by the hosts that they had not heard from them.

After telling Carter’s wife he was going to file a missing persons report, he and a group of seven friends drove to the location where Carter’s phone had last pinged.

They found a burnt-out tent, a mug belonging to Callum and a glasses case belonging to Carter.

They also saw what they believed was blood and a shell casing, the colleague told the court.

He said he was told in the days that followed that the bodies of his friends had been found.

On day one of the trial, a witness who appeared from a separate room with his face and identity concealed told the court he was with Gerardo at the crime scene, where the two other accused men were also present.

He said he waited nearby before fleeing when the situation escalated, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“I heard a commotion, got out of the pickup truck and took off running to my uncle’s house, where I hid in the bathroom,” he said.

He later saw the men again, when they allegedly threatened to kill him and make him disappear if he told anyone what he had seen.

“You’re going to end up like the gringos,” he recalled being told.

Day two of the trial was delayed while the court waited for the judge to arrive, according to Nine.

The judge appeared remotely on day one after being assigned to the trial in a last-minute change because the original judge was injured.

Family of the late Mr Rhoad have reportedly been watching the trial via video call from their home in the US.

The trial got off to a rocky start when prosecutors told the court two witnesses had been intimidated in the lead-up to proceedings by people connected to the accused, ABC News reported.

The first two witnesses allegedly received death threats and are now in witness protection.

An investigation by the State Attorney General’s Office found the two Perth men and their American friend were camping in a rural area of Ensenada when the local men, allegedly led by Gerardo, attacked them while trying to steal their ute.

When they tried to defend themselves, the accused allegedly shot them before throwing their bodies down a well.

Gerardo’s girlfriend, Ary Gisell Silva, admitted to instigating the robbery to take the car’s tyres and was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year.

The trial is expected to hear from more than 30 witnesses over an estimated six weeks.

None of the men have entered pleas after reportedly turning down a deal that would have seen them jailed for between 47 and 52 years.

Prosecutors are seeking sentences of more than 200 years for each of the alleged killers.

Outside court, Mrs Robinson told media she and her husband felt it was important to attend the trial in person.

“We’re doing this because we believe Callum and Jake would want us to be here,” she said.

Mr Robinson added: “We want to find out what happened. We want to find out why.”