Debra and Martin Robinson have travelled to Mexico to attend the trial of the three men accused of murdering their sons, Jake and Callum, and their American friend, Carter Rhoad. Following the trio’s deaths during a surfing trip in April 2024, the Robinson parents described the decision to face the accused in a Mexican courtroom as “both incredibly important and overwhelmingly difficult.”
The trial, which begins on Monday, marks a significant step for the parents as they seek to “hear the truth”, “understand the truth” and “be their voices, because they can no longer speak for themselves.”
Jesus Gerardo, Irineo Francisco and Angel Jesus are accused of the trio’s murder and will face trial in Ensenada, in the north west of Mexico, facing charges of aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery, violent robbery and grand theft auto.
Emphasising that their presence is “not about revenge,” the couple shared on the Callum and Jake Robinson Foundation Facebook page: “This is not about revenge. It is about truth, justice and love. For us, being in that courtroom is one of the last things we can do for Callum and Jake. We carry their love with us every step of the way and we will remember them for who they were not simply for how they died.”
“We will carry their names, their stories and their love into that courtroom. And we will never, ever let them be forgotten,” they added.
Debra and Martin set up the charity following their sons’ deaths to maximise “positive changes in the lives of others,” with the goal to “help people live bigger, shine brighter and love harder in their honour”.
