The trial of two accused killers entered its second day in Ensenada on Tuesday, with the father of the victims set to give evidence. The brothers' parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, have travelled from Perth to attend the proceedings, which began on Monday.
In a social media post before leaving, the Robinsons said they needed to be in the courtroom not for revenge, but to hear the truth. “We want to understand what happened. And most importantly, we want to be their voices, because they can no longer speak for themselves,” they wrote. “This is not about revenge. It is about truth, justice and love.”
Callum Robinson, 32, a lacrosse player who had lived in the US for 12 years, and his brother Jake, 31, a Perth doctor, were on a surfing and camping trip along Mexico’s Pacific coast with their American friend Carter Rhoad when they were killed. Their bodies were found at a remote campsite after they failed to return.
Three men — identified only by their given names Jesús Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Ángel Jesús — were originally charged with aggravated homicide. However, court documents indicate that only two are currently standing trial. It is not clear from the sources what became of the third suspect.
Western Australian government minister Reece Whitby described the trial as “every parent’s worst nightmare” and praised the Robinsons for their bravery in attending. “They want to be there for their boys and to see justice is done,” he said.
The Robinsons said in their post that being in the courtroom was one of the last things they could do for their sons. “We will carry their names, their stories and their love in that courtroom. And we will never, ever let them be forgotten.”