Judge throws book at Mexican killers of three surfers

A Mexican judge has sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the killings of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surf trip to the state of Baja California, a judicial official said. The sentencing on Friday came after the defendants, identified by authorities simply as Jesus Gerardo "N," known as "El Kekas," Irineo Francisco "N" and Angel Jesus "N," were found guilty a week ago of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence. The victims were Australian brothers Jake Robinson, 33, and Callum Robinson, 30, and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 30. The judge also ordered the defendants to pay compensation to the victims' families, said an official from the Baja California state judiciary. In November, Gisell Silva was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence, in a fast-track proceeding. The woman, then 23, was arrested a few days after the foreigners’ bodies were found in a water well. The Robinson brothers and Rhoad were camping and surfing near Punta San Jose, about 80 kilometres south of Ensenada, when they were reported missing in late April 2024. After a...