The trio, who went missing last month in the Pacific coast state of Baja California while on a surfing trip, were later found dead, each with a gunshot to the head. Mexican authorities believe they were killed while resisting attackers who wanted to steal their car tyres.
The man accused of the killings, Jesús Gerardo, known as "El Kekas", is in custody, with murder charges expected to be filed. His girlfriend, who is also in custody, reportedly gave evidence in court saying he had told her: "I killed them." The court also heard he had given her a mobile phone and shown her the allegedly stolen tyres on her car.
Last year was the sixth consecutive year that Mexico recorded more than 30,000 homicides. More than 100,000 people are also missing. But beneath the national statistics, violence is heavily concentrated in certain states.
Falko Ernst, a Mexico analyst for the nonprofit organisation Crisis Group, said: "Baja California is one of them - but even there the bulk of homicides occur in Tijuana, and mostly in the poor areas."
The violence in Baja California reflects the volume of criminal business in the state, but also the instability of the criminal system.
Tijuana is the biggest border city in Mexico, which means huge flows of people, goods and cash going to and from the US every day. That makes the city itself a prize to control, with a big local drug market and opportunities for money laundering.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin May 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin May 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Palmer and Kane shine for England to step up Euro push
Gareth Southgate decided to make his move.
Welcome to hell Mourinho thrives on discomfort with Fenerbahce move a fitting sanctuary
Towards the end of the second hour, with the time beginning to drag like heat, and even the flies losing the will to live, José Mourinho leans towards the microphone.
China's Shein wins Labour support for London listing
The Labour party has indicated its support for Shein's potential London listing, as the Chinese online fashion company prepares to push the button on the UK's biggest ever stock market flotation.
German floods prove need for urgent climate action, says chancellor
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said flooding in the south of the country was a call to action on the climate crisis, as the death toll from the disaster rose yesterday and thousands faced another night away from their homes.
Dutch pair face jail in Latvia after helping refugees to reach safety
Two Dutch people are facing prison sentences of up to eight years in Latvia over what they say was an act of compassion to help a group of refugees reach safety, including the sister of one of the pair.
Jury panel selection begins for Hunter Biden trial
Jury selection began yesterday in the federal gun case against the US president's son, Hunter Biden.
Gaza Militant resurgence in north highlights risk of 'forever war', experts say
There may be more Hamas militants in the north of Gaza, supposedly cleared by Israeli forces months ago, than in Rafah, the territory's southernmost city that was described by Israeli officials as the militant Islamist organisation's \"last stronghold\", analysts believe.
Gething faces no-confidence vote as scandals cut through
There was no honeymoon period and precious little breathing room for Vaughan Gething to relish the historic achievement of becoming the first black leader of a European country.
Galleries had 'kneejerk' reaction to Black Lives Matter, says artist
British arts institutions deployed \"kneejerk\" and \"stopgap\" responses in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement as they attempted to avoid criticism for the lack of diversity in their collections, according to the artist Gavin Jantjes.
Zara Aleena's family tortured by thought that her death was preventable
The family of Zara Aleena, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in east London while walking home after a night out, is \"tortured\" by thoughts that her \"death was preventable\" - and that a \"crumbling justice system\" contributed to it.