Baja California prosecutors and defense prepare final arguments in trial
Prosecutors from the Baja California state attorney general’s office and defense attorneys for three detained suspects prepared their final arguments after a month of hearings. The proceedings attracted widespread local and international media attention following the high-profile killings, which intensified safety concerns for international tourists visiting the region.
The Discovery of the Surfers in Punta San José
The three victims traveled to Baja California in April 2024 on a surfing trip. Shortly after arriving near the coastal town of Punta San José, roughly 80 kilometers from Ensenada, they were reported missing. Search operations concluded on May 3, 2024, when authorities located their bodies inside a well near the settlement.
Martin and Debra Robinson traveled from Australia to Ensenada to attend the trial. “Sé que ellos querrían que estuviéramos aquí; ellos harían lo mismo por nosotros”, Martin Robinson said at the start of the proceedings, which commenced on September 7. The parents planned to testify during the penultimate hearing.
Charges and Guilty Pleas Among the Accused
Mexican authorities arrested four individuals in 2024 in connection with the crime. Jesús Gerardo García, known as “el Kekas”, faced accusations as the primary gunman. His former partner Ary Gisell Silva Raya and two alleged accomplices, identified as Irineo Francisco “N” and Ángel Jesús “N”, were also taken into custody.
Investigators seized a mobile phone belonging to one of the victims from Silva Raya. In November 2024, she entered a guilty plea to charges of aggravated armed robbery and vehicle theft with violence during an expedited proceeding, resulting in a 20-sentence of 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, García and his two alleged associates elected to proceed to trial.
Testimony and Evidence Presented During the Trial
Court hearings revealed details regarding the fatal encounter. Silva Raya testified that García admitted to approaching the foreigners’ campsite armed with a 9-millimeter pistol. According to her testimony, the victims threw their belongings at the attacker in an attempt to stop the aggression, and one of them pleaded for his life before the shootings occurred.
Baja California state prosecutor María Elena Andrade Ramírez explained to the press that García targeted the victims’ pickup truck to steal tires and vehicle parts. When the tourists resisted the robbery, the suspect allegedly killed them and concealed their bodies in the nearby well. Silva Raya had traveled to Punta San José on April 27, 2024, where she encountered the three men and reportedly urged an associate to take their possessions.