The parents of two Australian brothers killed in Mexico are preparing to return to the site of their deaths for a private memorial as they await the verdict in the trial of three men accused of their murder. Debra and Martin Robinson will travel from Ensenada to a remote beach location on Mexico’s northwest coast on Thursday, where Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad were fatally shot in April 2024.

The trial, held in Baja California, has lasted four weeks and is nearing its conclusion. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday, with the judge expected to deliver the verdict Friday morning—a day when the court does not typically sit. The timing is critical for the Robinson family, who have booked flights back to Perth Friday night and expressed a strong desire to be present for the ruling.

Speaking briefly in court, Debra Robinson conveyed the couple’s hope for the verdict to be issued before their departure. She described the past weeks as "incredibly difficult and emotional" and thanked those offering support globally. The family has attended every day of the trial, sitting close to the three accused men, who were seen wearing bright-orange prison uniforms, handcuffed and guarded by police.

The defendants—Jesus Gerardo, known as "El Kekas," Irineo Francisco, and Angel Jesus—face charges of aggravated homicide, aggravated robbery committed at night, violent robbery, and vehicle theft with violence. Prosecutors allege the killings occurred during a robbery gone wrong while the victims were camping on a surfing trip along the Pacific Coast. According to prosecution claims, the assailants intended to steal the men’s ute, and when confronted, shot them before disposing of the bodies in a well.

Defense attorneys have argued there is insufficient evidence linking the three accused to the murders. Notably, the defense chose not to cross-examine two key witnesses on Wednesday— a former girlfriend of El Kekas and her son—both protected under witness protection and unidentified publicly. The former girlfriend received a 20-year prison sentence last year after admitting to instigating the robbery with the intent to steal the ute’s tyres.

With no jury present, the verdict rests solely with the presiding judge, who took over after the original judge suffered an accident shortly before the trial began. Australian consular officials have been providing assistance to the Robinson family throughout the proceedings, and Australia’s ambassador to Mexico, Crispin Conroy, is expected to attend the verdict announcement in Ensenada. The prosecution has requested sentences totaling 200 years for each of the accused.