Date finally set for appeal of convictions and sentence handed down by Mama Hooch's rapist brothers, Danny and Roberto Jaz.

Mama Hooch's rapist brothers Danny and Roberto Jaz will return to court in October when their appeal against some of their convictions and sentences is heard in Christchurch.

Sydney-born siblings Danny Jaz, 40, and Roberto Jaz, 38, were jailed in August 2023 after being found guilty of 69 charges, including rape, sexual violation, assault and battery. modesty, dizziness, disability and making intimate recordings of women without their knowledge. or consent and supply of illicit drugs.

The brothers, described in court as prolific and predatory offenders, targeted female customers and staff at their family bar in Christchurch, drugging and sexually assaulting them.

Danny Jaz was sentenced to 16 and a half years in prison and his brother to 17 years.

Both were ordered to serve 50 percent of the total sentence before being eligible for parole.

They are both appealing their conviction and sentence.

The court heard Roberto Jaz did not accept his beliefs and did not believe he had done anything wrong.

Neither brother showed remorse at any point during the proceedings.

The Herald has confirmed appeals for both men will take place at the Christchurch High Court in October.

What are they calling for?

The Herald understands Danny and Roberto Jaz are appealing the convictions relating to the charges they were found guilty of by Judge Paul Mabey KC following a lengthy trial in the District Court.

Danny Jaz pleaded guilty to 21 counts and Roberto Jaz to one count – and Judge Mabey found them guilty of the remainder of the charges they were found guilty of.

Last month, police confirmed that since the brothers were jailed, they had received three further complaints “related to historical incidents at Mama Hooch”.

“Police will not comment on the details of the complaints at this time, but we can confirm they are continuing their investigation,” a spokesperson said.

The Jaz brothers' appeals to the High Court – like their defense teams in District Court proceedings – are funded by Legal Aid.

READ MORE ABOUT OPERATION SINATRA – UNTANGLING THE MAMA HOOCH RAPISTS

The Herald reported last year that the two offenders had received government funding to allow two separate teams of lawyers to represent them in court as they defended all of the charges against them.

The case was in court for five years, during which time they appeared at various preliminary hearings and challenged several district court decisions in higher courts, including name suppression decisions.

Legal aid is funded by the Department of Justice and can be provided to defendants who need a lawyer but cannot afford one.

To qualify for legal aid in a criminal case, a defendant must be charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment of six months or more.

Legal aid is also available for appeals.

The Jaz brothers both sought and received legal aid, meeting the requirements of the service's guidelines.

Australian-born brothers will not be deported once released

It also emerged last month that the men would not be deported to Australia following their eventual release from prison.

It was thought that because they were born overseas – and the victims hoped so – they would not be allowed to stay in New Zealand if they were granted parole or released on parole. date of their statutory release.

However, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said it could not deport them due to the length of their stay in the country.

“Neither Danny nor Roberto Jaz are liable to deportation as residence visa holders due to the length of their stay in New Zealand,” said Margaret Cantlon, INZ's head of immigration resolutions. , to RNZ last month.

“According to their New Zealand police certificates, Danny and Roberto’s first offenses occurred in 2015, more than 10 years after they first obtained their residence permit.”

New Zealand's deportation laws can be used to deport migrants who have committed crimes, but only if the crimes occur within two, five or 10 years of being granted residency – the period varies depending on of the seriousness of the offense.

In the case of the Jaz brothers – whose crimes fall into the most serious category of 10-year sentences – their offense occurred more than a decade after they arrived at the home.

Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based journalist covering crime and justice nationally. She joined the Herald in 2008 and worked as a journalist for 18 years, focusing particularly on domestic violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicide, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, which airs monthly on nzherald.co.nz