The brothers at the centre of Christchurch’s Mama Hooch bar sexual assault and drink spiking case have launched a fresh appeal against their sentence and convictions.

In 2023, Danny and Roberto Jaz were convicted of 69 charges between them, including rape, sexual violation, indecent assault, stupefying, disabling, making intimate recordings of women without their knowledge or consent and supplying illicit drugs.

The offending took place at Mama Hooch and nearby Venuti – a bar and restaurant owned and run by the Jaz family in central Christchurch.

After a judge-alone trial in the Christchurch District Court spanning more than three months, Danny Jaz was sentenced in August 2023 to 16-and-a-half years in prison for drugging and or violating 19 women.

Roberto Jaz, 38, (left) and Danny Jaz, 40, (right) were convicted of 69 charges. Photo / George Heard

On the same day, Roberto Jaz was sentenced to 17 years behind bars for offending against eight women.

Both men were ordered to serve at least half of their sentences before they are eligible for parole.

After an unsuccessful High Court appeal against their sentences and some of the convictions, they have now taken their case to the Court of Appeal.

A date has not yet been set for any hearing.

The High Court appeal

In the High Court at Christchurch, lawyers for the Australian-born brothers accused the District Court trial judge of bias and procedural unfairness, claiming the brothers were denied a fair trial.

Ron Mansfield, KC, argued that the judge failed to remain neutral, favouring the Crown’s case over the men’s right to present a defence.

Lawyer Ron Mansfield, KC, acted for the defence. Photo / NZH

The lawyers claimed the judge “ran roughshod” over and “shut down” defence evidence, resulting in a substantial miscarriage of justice.

The Crown argued against the appeal, saying that while the trial, which spanned three months, was not perfect, the outcome was solid and right.

After considering all the information before him, Justice Cameron Mander dismissed the appeals against convictions and sentence for Danny Jaz.

He allowed appeals for Roberto Jaz against three convictions of making a visual intimate recording.

He ruled that the quashing of the convictions did not make any difference to the rapist’s end sentence.

Justice Cameron Mander. Photo / Pool/ Iain McGregor/The Press

“When viewed overall, I do not consider the final 17-year sentence is required to be adjusted. The quashing of three convictions for those charges does not materially affect the appellant’s overall criminal culpability or have any discernible impact upon the appropriateness of the ultimate effective sentence imposed,” he ruled.

“His convictions on those charges are quashed. No order is made for a retrial on those charges.”

The District Court sentencing

In the District Court, Judge Paul Mabey described the Jaz brothers as “arrogant” and “entitled”.

“The level of your offending is unknown in this country ... you helped yourself to young women with callous disregard for their rights and their dignity,” he said at sentencing.

“You should both be of no doubt that you’ve severely damaged all of your victims by your predatory and heartless offending, driven by arrogance, misguided self-belief, and a complete lack of respect for the rights of those you’ve offended against.

“Neither of you showed any remorse … you are sexual predators. Perhaps misogynistic attitudes and the patriarchal approach to life within your family may have engendered an unhealthy attitude to women.

Judge Paul Mabey KC. Photo / George Heard

“You make conscious decisions to exploit and abuse your victims … You were men in your 30s … what occurred was a continuous course of conduct over a period of three-and-a-half years.”

Both pleaded guilty to several offences at the start of their trial. They have not disputed those convictions.

Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicides, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz